Na een overstroming ruimen wij de kelder op.

Na een overstroming ruimen wij de kelder op.
After a flood, we tidy up the basement.

Breakdown of Na een overstroming ruimen wij de kelder op.

wij
we
na
after
een
a, an
opruimen
to tidy up
de kelder
the basement
de overstroming
the flood
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Questions & Answers about Na een overstroming ruimen wij de kelder op.

Why is opruimen split into ruimen … op in this sentence?
Opruimen is a separable verb in Dutch. In a main clause (a normal declarative sentence), the prefix op detaches from the stem ruimen and moves to the end of the clause. So you say ruimen wij de kelder op, not opruimen wij de kelder.
Why does the verb ruimen come before the subject wij, instead of after it?

When you start a sentence with an adverbial phrase like Na een overstroming, Dutch requires inversion: the finite verb comes directly after that phrase, then the subject. So the order is:

  1. Na een overstroming (adverbial)
  2. ruimen (verb)
  3. wij (subject)
  4. rest of the sentence…
What exactly does Na een overstroming mean, and how is it structured?
  • Na is the preposition “after.”
  • een is the indefinite article “a.”
  • overstroming means “flood.”
    Put together, Na een overstroming = “After a flood.” It’s a prepositional phrase describing when the action takes place.
Why is it de kelder and not het kelder or een kelder?
  • Kelder is a common-gender noun, so it takes de, not het.
  • We use de kelder (definite article) because we’re talking about a specific cellar (probably the one in this house). If you meant any cellar in general, you could say een kelder (“a cellar”).
What’s the difference between opruimen, leegmaken, and schoonmaken?
  • Opruimen = to clear up, tidy up, remove debris or clutter (often by putting things away or discarding them).
  • Leegmaken = to empty (e.g. empty a box, a room, or a cellar). You remove everything inside until it’s empty.
  • Schoonmaken = to clean (remove dirt, scrub surfaces).
    In the context of a flooded cellar you might leegmaken (take out water and stuff), opruimen (get rid of or sort destroyed items), and then schoonmaken (disinfect and scrub).
Why is wij used here? Could I say we instead?
  • Wij is the full, stressed form of the pronoun “we.” It’s slightly more formal or emphatic.
  • We is the reduced, everyday form. Both are correct:
    • Na een overstroming ruimen wij de kelder op. (neutral or formal)
    • Na een overstroming ruimen we de kelder op. (more colloquial)