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Ik hang de handdoek in de badkamer op.

Ik hang de handdoek in de badkamer op.
I hang the towel up in the bathroom.

Breakdown of Ik hang de handdoek in de badkamer op.

ik
I
in
in
de badkamer
the bathroom
ophangen
to hang up
de handdoek
the towel
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Questions & Answers about Ik hang de handdoek in de badkamer op.

Why is op at the end of the sentence?

In Dutch separable verbs like ophangen split into hang (finite verb) and op (prefix). In a main clause:

  1. The finite part (hang) occupies second position.
  2. The prefix (op) moves to the end.
    So Ik hang de handdoek in de badkamer op follows this rule.
What exactly is a separable verb in Dutch?

A separable verb combines a verb stem with a prefix to create a new meaning. In the infinitive they stay together (ophangen), but in a main clause the prefix detaches and goes to the end. Examples:

  • aankomen → Ik kom om half acht aan. (I arrive at 7:30.)
  • uitzetten → Hij zet de televisie uit. (He turns off the TV.)
How would this sentence change if I add a modal verb like willen or gaan?

With a modal verb you keep the infinitive together:

  • Ik wil de handdoek in de badkamer ophangen.
  • Ik ga de handdoek in de badkamer ophangen.
    Notice ophangen remains one word because it’s the infinitive.
Why do we use in de badkamer instead of op de badkamer?
Dutch in means inside, so in de badkamer tells you the towel goes inside the bathroom. op usually means on top of (a surface). Saying op de badkamer would imply “on top of the bathroom,” which doesn’t make sense.
Why is it de handdoek and not het handdoek or een handdoek?
  1. handdoek is a common-gender noun; its definite article is de.
  2. We use de (the) here because it’s a specific towel you’re hanging. If you meant any towel, you’d say Ik hang een handdoek in de badkamer op.
Why doesn’t the verb take a -t after ik (i.e. why hang not hangt)?

In Dutch present tense:

  • ik
    • verb stem (no -t): ik hang, ik werk.
  • jij/zij/het
    • stem + -t: jij hangt, hij werkt.
Can I change the word order, for example by starting with in de badkamer?

Yes. Dutch is a V2 language (verb-second). If you front the adverbial phrase, you invert subject and verb:
In de badkamer hang ik de handdoek op.
The verb hang stays in second position and the prefix op remains at the end.

Is badkamer one word or two? And can I split it?
  1. badkamer is a compound noun: bad (bath) + kamer (room), always written as one word.
  2. You never split it in normal writing or speech.