Breakdown of Ik zet de nieuwe stoel hier en de vorige naast de deur.
ik
I
hier
here
nieuw
new
de deur
the door
en
and
de stoel
the chair
naast
next to
zetten
to place
de vorige
the previous one
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Questions & Answers about Ik zet de nieuwe stoel hier en de vorige naast de deur.
Why isn’t the verb zet repeated before the second phrase “de vorige naast de deur”?
In Dutch you can coordinate two verb phrases without repeating identical elements. Here zet applies to both segments—“(Ik zet) de nieuwe stoel hier” and “(Ik zet) de vorige naast de deur.” Omitting the second zet is natural and makes the sentence more concise.
What does de vorige refer to, and why is there no stoel after it?
de vorige is a nominalized adjective (“the previous one”), acting like a pronoun. It refers back to stoel mentioned earlier, so you don’t need to repeat the noun. Dutch frequently uses adjective + article combos to stand in for a full noun phrase.
What kind of word is hier, and why does it come after de nieuwe stoel?
hier is a locative adverb meaning “here.” In a Dutch main clause the typical order is Subject – Verb – Object – Adverbial (SVOA). So after zet (V) you get de nieuwe stoel (O), then hier (A). That said, there is some flexibility—you can also say “Ik zet hier de nieuwe stoel …” without changing the fundamental meaning.
Is naast de deur an adverb or a prepositional phrase, and what does it express?
It’s a prepositional phrase (preposition naast + noun phrase de deur) functioning as a locative adjunct. It tells you where the previous chair is placed—literally “next to the door.”
Can I swap hier and naast de deur, or move them elsewhere in the sentence?
Yes. Dutch allows some movement of adjuncts for emphasis or style. For example:
- “Ik zet de nieuwe stoel naast de deur en de vorige hier.”
- “Hier zet ik de nieuwe stoel en daar de vorige naast de deur.”
Just keep in mind the default SV(O)A order for clarity.
Why do both phrases use the definite article de, and when would you use een instead?
Both chairs are specific: you know which new chair and which previous chair you’re talking about, so you use the definite article de. If you introduce a chair in general, you’d use een: “Ik zet een stoel hier.” Only once it’s specific or known does it become “de stoel.”
What’s the difference between zetten, leggen and plaatsen in this context?
- zetten: to put or set something upright (ideal for chairs).
- leggen: to lay something down flat (not used for upright objects).
- plaatsen: a more formal or neutral “place/position,” usable in many contexts but slightly less conversational.
So for positioning a chair upright, zetten is the most natural choice.