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Questions & Answers about Ik doe mijn riem af.
What verb is this really? It looks like two words.
It’s the separable verb afdoen. In a main clause it splits into verb + particle: doe … af.
Why is af at the end?
Because with separable verbs in main clauses, the finite verb goes in second position and the particle goes to the end: Ik doe … af.
How do I say this in the past and the present perfect?
- Simple past: Ik deed mijn riem af.
- Present perfect: Ik heb mijn riem afgedaan. Past participle is afgedaan (prefix + ge + gedaan).
What happens in a subordinate clause?
The particle reattaches to the verb and the verb goes to the end:
- omdat ik mijn riem afdoe
- Perfect: omdat ik mijn riem heb afgedaan (also common: omdat ik mijn riem afgedaan heb).
Do I need a reflexive pronoun here?
No. Afdoen is transitive: Ik doe mijn riem af. Reflexive forms are used in other expressions like zich uitkleden, but not here.
How do I negate it?
Ik doe mijn riem niet af. Place niet before the separable particle position (i.e., before the end of the verb phrase).
How do I ask a yes/no question?
Invert subject and verb: Doe je je riem af? The double je is normal (first is subject, second is possessive). Formal: Doet u uw riem af? Emphatic: Doe je jouw riem af?
Where do object pronouns go with separable verbs?
Before the particle: Ik doe hem af. / Doe je ’m af? With a noun you keep the full form: Ik doe mijn riem af.
What’s the opposite action (putting it on)?
Ik doe mijn riem om. You can also say Ik maak mijn riem vast (fasten my belt).
Can I say Ik doe mijn riem uit?
It’s understandable, but for a belt afdoen is the idiomatic choice. Uitdoen is common for clothing and lights: Ik doe mijn jas uit, Ik doe het licht uit. For a belt prefer afdoen or losmaken.
How is afdoen different from uittrekken and losmaken/losdoen?
- afdoen: remove an item that goes around you (belt, ring, watch).
- uittrekken: pull off clothing like shoes, socks, sweater; not used for belts.
- losmaken/losdoen: undo/unfasten; you might open the buckle without fully removing the belt: Ik maak mijn riem los.
Is riem the same as gordel?
No. riem = clothing belt; gordel = (seat) belt in a car or plane. So you say Doe je gordel om/af in a car, but Doe je riem om/af for a waist belt.
How do I pronounce the sentence?
- Ik: like English “ick” with a short i.
- doe: “doo” (Dutch oe = English “oo” in “food”).
- mijn: roughly like “mine” (Dutch ij = a diphthong similar to English “eye”).
- riem: “reem” (Dutch ie = English “ee”).
- af: “ahf” (short a, not like English “off”).
What article and gender does riem have? Diminutive?
riem is a de-word: de riem. Diminutive: het riempje.
How do I express “I’m taking my belt off (right now)”?
- Progressive: Ik ben mijn riem aan het afdoen.
- Also common: Ik ben bezig mijn riem af te doen.
How do I use the infinitive with te?
Use af te doen: Ik probeer mijn riem af te doen. / Om mijn riem af te doen, moet ik de gesp losmaken.
Any short, colloquial alternatives?
- Command: Doe je riem af! or just Riem af!
- Result state: Ik heb mijn riem af. / Heb je je riem al af? Ja, ik heb ’m af.
Quick conjugation check for doen?
- Present: ik doe, jij/je doet, u doet, hij/zij/het doet, wij/jullie/zij doen.
- Past: ik/hij deed, wij/jullie/zij deden.
- Participle: gedaan; with the prefix: afgedaan.