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Questions & Answers about Zet hier je handtekening.
What does Zet hier je handtekening literally translate to in English, and how would you say it naturally?
Literally it’s Set here your signature, but in natural English we’d say Sign here or Please put your signature here.
Why is zet used instead of plaatsen or ondertekenen?
Zet is the imperative of zetten, meaning to put or to place, and it’s very common on forms and signs. Plaatsen is a bit more formal (e.g. Plaats hier uw handtekening). Ondertekenen means to sign (the action) rather than to place your signature, so you might see Onderteken hier but Zet hier je handtekening is clearer about putting your actual signature on the document.
Why is there no article before handtekening (like de or een)?
When you use an imperative with a possessive pronoun (je), you drop the article. Je handtekening already tells you whose signature it is, so adding de or een would be redundant. This keeps instructions concise.
Why use je instead of uw or jouw?
Je is the informal possessive pronoun for your. Uw is the formal version (used on official documents), and jouw is the stressed informal form (used for emphasis, e.g. Is dat écht jouw handtekening?). On most everyday forms or signs, je is neutral and concise.
Is it correct to say Zet je handtekening hier instead? Does the word order change the meaning?
Yes, Zet je handtekening hier is also correct. Dutch allows both structures: verb + adverb + object (Zet hier je handtekening) and verb + object + adverb (Zet je handtekening hier). The overall meaning stays the same; the first version places a tiny bit more emphasis on hier.
What kind of noun is handtekening, and how is it formed?
Handtekening is a compound noun made of hand (“hand”) + tekening (“drawing/sketch”), literally “hand-drawing.” In Dutch, such compounds are written as one word, and together they mean signature.
Why is handtekening singular here and not plural?
You’re asked to provide one signature in the designated spot. The plural handtekeningen would imply multiple different signatures in general, which doesn’t match the instruction.
How do you form the imperative for Dutch verbs like zetten?
For most verbs you drop the infinitive -en ending to get the stem (zet from zetten). That stem is your imperative form (for jij, u, etc.). You don’t need a subject pronoun in the imperative.