Breakdown of Ik gebruik mijn telefoon niet meer tijdens de vergadering.
ik
I
mijn
my
tijdens
during
gebruiken
to use
de vergadering
the meeting
de telefoon
the phone
niet meer
no longer
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Questions & Answers about Ik gebruik mijn telefoon niet meer tijdens de vergadering.
Why do we use niet meer instead of nooit in this sentence?
Nooit means “never” at any time, whereas niet meer means “no longer” – something happened before but has stopped now. In Ik gebruik mijn telefoon niet meer… you emphasize that you used to use your phone in meetings, but from this point on you don’t.
Why is tijdens de vergadering used? Could I say in de vergadering or op de vergadering?
Tijdens specifically means “during” an event. In de vergadering would focus on being inside the meeting room, and op de vergadering is incorrect: op is used for specific dates or surfaces, not events.
Where does niet go in a Dutch sentence, and why is niet meer placed after the object here?
Dutch negation typically follows the direct object or any specific element and precedes general adverbials. Here mijn telefoon is the object, so niet meer (as a negation phrase) comes right after it.
Can I say Ik gebruik tijdens de vergadering mijn telefoon niet meer? If so, is the meaning different?
Yes, you can move tijdens de vergadering directly after the verb to emphasize time. The negation niet meer still follows mijn telefoon. The overall meaning remains the same.
Why is de vergadering definite? Could it be een vergadering or plural vergaderingen?
Using de vergadering implies a specific meeting. Use een vergadering for any one meeting, or tijdens vergaderingen if you mean “during meetings” in general.
Do I have to include mijn in mijn telefoon, or can I say de telefoon?
You can say de telefoon if the context makes it clear which phone you mean (e.g., your work phone). Mijn telefoon removes any doubt that it’s yours.
Why is the verb gebruiken in the present tense (gebruik) and not in another form?
Gebruik is the first person singular present form of gebruiken. You use the present tense to describe habitual or ongoing actions—in this case, your current habit.
What’s the difference between gebruiken and the phrase gebruik maken van?
Both mean “to use.” Gebruiken is a straightforward verb (“to use”). Gebruik maken van literally means “to make use of” and sounds a bit more formal or emphatic but is interchangeable in many contexts.