Breakdown of Gooi het plastic in de prullenbak, niet op de grond.
niet
not
in
in
op
on
het plastic
the plastic
gooien
to throw
de prullenbak
the trash can
de grond
the ground
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Questions & Answers about Gooi het plastic in de prullenbak, niet op de grond.
Why is the verb gooi used instead of gooien?
In Dutch the imperative (command) is formed by dropping -en from the infinitive. So from gooien you get gooi (“throw!”). You never use the full infinitive in a direct command.
Why is there no subject like jij or u in this sentence?
Imperative sentences in Dutch normally omit the subject. It’s understood to be jij (you, informal) or u (you, formal) without being stated.
Why is it het plastic rather than de plastic or just plastic?
The noun plastic is neuter in Dutch, so it takes the definite article het. You need an article here because you mean that specific plastic.
Why do we say de prullenbak? Shouldn’t it be het prullenbak or no article?
Prullenbak is a common-gender (“de-word”) noun, so it always takes de. And since you’re referring to a particular bin, you need the definite article.
When should I use in versus op?
Use in for something that goes inside an enclosed space or container (a bin). Use op for something that lies on a surface. Hence in de prullenbak (inside the trash can) and op de grond (on the ground).
Why do we use niet instead of geen in niet op de grond?
Geen negates a noun that has no article (e.g. geen geld = no money). Niet negates verbs, adjectives, adverbs, or nouns with an article. Here de grond has an article, and you’re negating the location, so you use niet.
Why is there a comma before niet and no conjunction like maar?
The comma simply separates the positive instruction from its negative counterpart. It’s informal but common. You could add maar (“but”) for clarity: Gooi het plastic in de prullenbak, maar niet op de grond, but it isn’t required if the pause is clear.
Can I say stop het plastic in de prullenbak or leg het plastic in de prullenbak instead of gooi?
Yes, stoppen (“stop/put in”) and leggen (“lay/place”) are possible. However, gooien is the most idiomatic verb for tossing something into a trash can. Leggen might suggest careful placement, and stoppen is slightly more formal.
What’s the difference between prullenbak and vuilnisbak?
They are largely synonyms. Prullenbak often refers to a small indoor waste bin (e.g., on your desk). Vuilnisbak can imply a larger container, sometimes outdoors, but people use them interchangeably.
Could I reverse the order and say Niet op de grond, maar in de prullenbak?
Absolutely. Dutch allows you to front the negative for emphasis: Niet op de grond, maar in de prullenbak or even Niet op de grond – gooi het plastic in de prullenbak.
How do I make this sentence more polite?
Add alstublieft (formal) or alsjeblieft (informal):
Gooi het plastic alstublieft in de prullenbak, niet op de grond.
Or use a question‐style imperative:
Wilt u het plastic in de prullenbak gooien en niet op de grond?
What is the usual word order in such an imperative?
In a Dutch command you typically have:
- Verb first (gooi)
- Direct object next (het plastic)
- Prepositional phrases or adverbials (in de prullenbak, niet op de grond)
This V-O-P order is standard in imperatives.