Learn Hardcore Dutch: Comprimeer documenten voordat je ze stuurt.

Comprimeer is the imperative form of the verb comprimeren (“to compress”). In Dutch you form a command by using the verb stem. The present tense is jij comprimeert, but you drop the –t to get comprimeer when giving a direct instruction. This one form works for both singular and plural “you” (except formal “u,” which can take comprimeert u but is less common).

Why doesn’t comprimeer end in –t, unlike comprimeert in the present tense?

In Dutch, imperatives generally use the verb stem, not the full present-tense form. You remove the –t from comprimeert to make the command comprimeer.

Could I say comprimeert as a command if speaking formally to u?

Yes—if you want to be very formal you can address u with Comprimeert u de documenten alstublieft. In everyday Dutch, however, people usually stick to the stem (comprimeer) and add alstublieft or alsjeblieft to be polite.

What role does voordat play in the sentence?

Voordat is a subordinating conjunction meaning “before” (temporal). It introduces a dependent clause and forces the finite verb of that clause to the end.

Why is the verb stuurt placed at the end after ze?

Because voordat is a subordinating conjunction, Dutch word order in that clause is S-O-V (Subject-Object-Verb). So you get je (subject) + ze (object) + stuurt (verb) at the very end.

Why can’t I use voor je ze stuurt instead of voordat je ze stuurt?

Voor on its own is a preposition (“for,” “in front of”) and can’t introduce a full clause. To say “before doing something,” you need the conjunction voordat.

What does ze refer to, and why is it placed where it is?

Here ze is the third-person plural direct-object pronoun meaning “them” (referring to documenten). In subordinate clauses, object pronouns still precede the final verb: je (you) + ze (them) + stuurt (send).

Why is je used instead of jij in the clause?

In Dutch subordinate clauses, the unstressed pronoun je is normally used. Jij appears in main clauses, for emphasis, or in questions (e.g. Stuur jij ze?).

Could I replace documenten with bestanden and say Zip bestanden voordat je ze stuurt?

Absolutely. Bestanden (“files”) is very common, and many Dutch speakers even say zippen:
“Zip de bestanden voordat je ze stuurt.”
Both versions are understood; comprimeren is just the more formal term.

How do I pronounce comprimeren and documenten?

A rough phonetic guide:
– comprimeren: [kɔm-pri-MEER-ən] (“kom-pree-MEER-uhn”)
– documenten: [ˌdo-ku-MEN-tən] (“doh-koo-MEN-tuhn”)