Breakdown of Het brood in de vriezer raakt op.
het brood
the bread
in
in
de vriezer
the freezer
opraken
to run out
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Questions & Answers about Het brood in de vriezer raakt op.
Why is the verb split into raakt and op in "Het brood in de vriezer raakt op."?
Because op is the separable prefix of the verb op raken (to run out). In a main clause the finite verb (raakt) stays in second position, and the prefix (op) moves to the very end of the clause, yielding raakt … op.
What is the infinitive form of the verb here?
The infinitive is op raken. You’ll usually look it up under raken, but remember that op is its separable prefix.
How do you conjugate op raken in the present tense?
Present-tense conjugation of op raken:
• ik raak op
• jij raakt op
• hij/zij raakt op
• wij/jullie/zij raken op
How do you form the past tense and past participle of op raken?
It’s a regular verb:
• Past tense: ik raakte op, jij raakte op, hij/zij raakte op, wij/jullie/zij raakten op
• Past participle: opgeraakt (used with zijn, e.g. “Het brood in de vriezer is opgeraakt.”)
Where do you place niet to make the sentence negative?
You put niet immediately before the separable prefix at the end:
“Het brood in de vriezer raakt niet op.”
How do you turn "Het brood in de vriezer raakt op." into a yes/no question?
Invert the finite verb and the subject. The separable prefix remains at the end:
“Raakt het brood in de vriezer op?”
Why is it het brood and not de brood?
In Dutch every noun takes either de or het, and unfortunately it’s largely arbitrary. “Brood” is a neuter noun, so it takes het. You simply have to memorize articles with each noun.
Can you omit "in de vriezer" if the freezer context is understood?
Yes. Without location it’s simply “Het brood raakt op.” You only add “in de vriezer” when you need to specify where the bread is running out.
How would you express the idea in the perfect tense?
Use zijn + past participle:
“Het brood in de vriezer is opgeraakt.”
Where would you place an adverb like bijna (almost) in this sentence?
Adverbs of degree generally go before the separable prefix at the end:
“Het brood in de vriezer raakt bijna op.”