Breakdown of Het gereedschap om de stoel in elkaar te zetten zit al in de doos.
in
in
de stoel
the chair
al
already
om
for
zitten
to sit
de doos
the box
het gereedschap
the tool
in elkaar zetten
to put together
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Questions & Answers about Het gereedschap om de stoel in elkaar te zetten zit al in de doos.
What does gereedschap mean in this sentence?
Gereedschap is the Dutch word for tool or tools, often used collectively like equipment. Even though it looks singular, it can refer to a set of tools needed for a job.
Why is gereedschap singular even though it refers to multiple tools?
In Dutch, some collective nouns stay singular. Gereedschap functions like English equipment—you say het gereedschap (the equipment) rather than de gereedschappen. If you really want to emphasize individual tools, you could use de gereedschappen, but the singular collective is more common.
What is the function of om de stoel in elkaar te zetten?
This is a purpose clause formed with om + infinitive. It answers “why?”—we have the tools in the box in order to assemble the chair. In Dutch, om + subject + verb-group (ending with te + main verb) expresses purpose.
Why is there a te before zetten, and why is zetten at the end?
In an om-clause Dutch requires te before the main verb. Also, Dutch subordinate clauses push the entire infinitive phrase—including any separable particles—to the end, so you get om de stoel in elkaar te zetten.
What does in elkaar zetten mean, and why are there three parts?
In elkaar zetten is a separable verb meaning “to put together” or “to assemble.”
- in
- elkaar are particles
- zetten is the main verb
In an infinitive clause you keep the particles and the verb together: in elkaar te zetten.
Why does the verb zit come right after the whole subject phrase?
Dutch main clauses follow the V2 rule (verb-second). The full subject phrase “Het gereedschap om de stoel in elkaar te zetten” occupies the first position, so the finite verb “zit” must come next.
Why is zit used instead of liggen to describe the tools in the box?
Dutch uses zitten for things inside a container and liggen for things lying on a surface. Since the tools are inside de doos (the box), you use zit.
What does al mean here, and where does it fit?
Al means “already.” In the sentence it comes immediately after the verb: zit al in de doos = “is already in the box.”
Why is it in de doos, and why de for doos?
In de doos literally means “in the box.” Dutch nouns have grammatical gender: doos is a common-gender noun (like de tafel), so it takes de, not het.