Anna schuift de schuifdeur dicht.

Anna slides the sliding door shut.

Breakdown of Anna schuift de schuifdeur dicht.

• Anna: Anna
• dichtschuiven: to slide shut
• de schuifdeur: the sliding door

Questions & Answers about Anna schuift de schuifdeur dicht.

Why isn’t the verb written as Anna dichtschuift de schuifdeur?

In Dutch dichtschuiven is a separable verb (dicht = prefix, schuiven = root). In a main clause the finite verb (schuift) must be in second position, and the prefix (dicht) moves to the end. Hence:
Anna schuift de schuifdeur dicht.

What is the infinitive form of schuift in this sentence?

The infinitive is dichtschuiven (“to slide shut”). In the present tense you split it: ich schuif dicht, jij schuift dicht, etc.

Why is the door called de schuifdeur instead of just de deur or de schuivende deur?

Dutch commonly forms compound nouns by joining words. Schuifdeur literally means “sliding door” and is the standard term. De schuivende deur (“the door that is sliding”) uses an adjective construction and is less idiomatic for naming a specific object.

Why do we use the article de before schuifdeur rather than het?

All Dutch nouns are either common gender (take de) or neuter (take het). Deur is a common-gender noun, so it always uses de, even in compounds like schuifdeur.

Can I use sluiten instead of dichtschuiven?

Yes. Anna sluit de schuifdeur also means “Anna closes the sliding door.” However, dichtschuiven emphasizes the sliding motion, while sluiten is more general (“to close,” e.g. with a latch or button).

How do I form the simple past of dichtschuiven?

Dichtschuiven is a strong (irregular) verb, so it changes its vowel in the past tense:
• Ik schuif de schuifdeur dicht → Ik schoof de schuifdeur dicht
• Wij schuiven de schuifdeur dicht → Wij schoven de schuifdeur dicht
Example: Anna schoof de schuifdeur dicht.

What is the past participle of dichtschuiven?

For separable verbs you insert ge- between prefix and root in the participle:
dicht + ge + schoven = dichtgeschoven.
Example: Anna heeft de schuifdeur dichtgeschoven.

How do I replace de schuifdeur with a pronoun?

Since schuifdeur is a de-word, you use hem:
Anna schuift hem dicht.

How would you say the same idea in a subordinate clause with dat?

In a subordinate clause you don’t split the separable verb. Both parts go together at the end:
… dat Anna de schuifdeur dichtschuift.

How is schuifdeur and schuift pronounced?

The Dutch sch is [sx] (a combined /s/ + guttural /χ/).
• schuif = [sxœyf], roughly “skhœyf”
• schuift = [sxœyft], roughly “skhœyft”
The ui ([œy]) is a diphthong not found in English—start at [œ] (like French œuf) and glide to [y] (like French tu).