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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”?
Absolutely. Using gaan + infinitive expresses a near future: Ik ga de film opnemen = “I’m going to record the movie.”
How do I ask “Are you recording the movie?” in Dutch?
Invert the subject and verb: Neem je de film op?
Note that op still goes to the end: Neem je de film op?
What if I add a time expression, e.g. “today”? Where does op go then?
Even with extra words, the separable prefix stays at the end:
Ik neem vandaag de film op.
(Subject + verb + time + object + prefix.)
Does opnemen always mean “to record”?
No, it depends on context. Opnemen can also mean:
- “to pick up” (e.g. De baby opnemen = “to pick up the baby”),
- “to take on” (e.g. verantwoordelijkheid opnemen = “to assume responsibility”),
- “to absorb” or “to include.”
Here it specifically means “to record.”