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De bestuurder stopt netjes voor het zebrapad.

De bestuurder stopt netjes voor het zebrapad.
The driver stops neatly at the crosswalk.
FromLesson 29inHardcore Dutch
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Questions & Answers about De bestuurder stopt netjes voor het zebrapad.

Why is it de bestuurder and not het bestuurder?
In Dutch every noun takes either de or het as its definite article. Bestuurder (driver) is a so-called “de-word,” so you always say de bestuurder. You need to memorize which nouns are de and which are het, though patterns (people, professions → often de) can help.
How do you form the verb stoppen in this sentence? Why is it stopt?

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.”

What does netjes mean, and why is it placed after the verb?

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).

Why is the preposition voor used here? Could you use another preposition?

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.

What exactly is a zebrapad, and how do you translate it?
A zebrapad is a pedestrian crossing marked with white stripes on the road, resembling a zebra’s stripes. In English you say “crosswalk” (American) or “zebra crossing” (British).
Why is it het zebrapad and not de zebrapad?
Although zebra is a de-word, the head of the compound is pad (path), which is a het-word. In Dutch compounds take the gender of the head: het zebrapad.
What’s the difference between bestuurder and chauffeur?

• 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.

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