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Questions & Answers about Ik neem de film op.
Is opnemen in Ik neem de film op a separable verb, and why is op at the end?
Yes. Opnemen is a separable verb (a bit like English phrasal verbs such as “pick up”). In a main clause the prefix op detaches and goes to the end of the sentence, while the finite verb form neem remains in the second position.
Why is it de film and not het film?
Dutch nouns are either de-words or het-words and you have to memorize which is which. Film happens to be a de-word, so you say de film.
Can I say Ik neem een film op instead? What’s the difference?
Yes you can. Ik neem een film op means I’m recording a film (indefinite, “a movie”). Ik neem de film op refers to a specific film that you and your listener already know about.
How do I form the past tense and past participle of opnemen?
Opnemen is irregular.
- Simple past: Ik nam de film op.
- Past participle (used with hebben): Ik heb de film opgenomen.
Can I say Ik ga de film opnemen for “I’m going to record the movie”?