Breakdown of De bestuurder stopt netjes voor het zebrapad.
Questions & Answers about De bestuurder stopt netjes voor het zebrapad.
The base form is stoppen (to stop). In the present tense, third-person singular (he/she/it), you drop -en and add -t:
• ik stop
• jij stopt
• hij/zij/het stopt
So De bestuurder stopt means “The driver stops.”
Netjes translates to “politely,” “properly,” or “neatly.” In a Dutch main clause the typical word order is:
Subject – Finite verb – Adverbs/adverbials – Rest of sentence.
Hence ‘De bestuurder stopt netjes…’ is natural. If you put netjes before the verb, it sounds marked: ‘De bestuurder netjes stopt…’ (uncommon).
Voor means “in front of” or “before” (as a location). You stop voor het zebrapad = “in front of the crosswalk.”
• Bij het zebrapad would mean “at the crosswalk” (more static, less precise).
• Tegen het zebrapad is wrong here (means “leaning against”).
So voor is the correct choice when you stop just before crossing.
• Bestuurder is any person who drives a vehicle (car, bus, bike).
• Chauffeur usually means a professional driver, often of a taxi, limousine or bus, and sometimes implies a chauffeur with a uniform or special service.