Kun je de kalender ophangen, alsjeblieft?

Can you hang up the calendar, please?

Breakdown of Kun je de kalender ophangen, alsjeblieft?

• kunnen: can
• je: you
• alsjeblieft: please
• ophangen: to hang up
• de kalender: the calendar

Questions & Answers about Kun je de kalender ophangen, alsjeblieft?

Why is it written as Kun je and not Kunt je?

With jij/je after the verb (as in a yes/no question), Dutch drops the final -t. So you get Kun je (not Kunt je). Examples:

• Werk je? (not Werkt je?)
• Heb je? (not Hebt je?) With u, you keep the -t: Kunt u…?

Can I also say Kan je de kalender ophangen?

Yes. Both Kun je…? and Kan je…? are common. Many style guides in the Netherlands prefer Kun je…?, while Kan je…? is very frequent in Belgium and informal Dutch. Both are understood everywhere.

What’s the nuance difference between Kun je…, Wil je…, and Zou je … willen…?

• Kun je…? literally asks about ability but is widely used for requests, like English “Can you…?”
• Wil je…? asks about willingness and often sounds a bit friendlier: “Would you like to…?”
• Zou je … willen…? is the most polite/soft: “Would you be willing to…?” Examples:
• Kun je de kalender ophangen?
• Wil je de kalender ophangen?
• Zou je de kalender willen ophangen?

Why is ophangen at the end of the sentence?

Dutch sends non-finite verbs (infinitives/participles) to the end. With a modal like kunnen, the main verb stays as an infinitive at the end:

• Kun je de kalender ophangen?
  The direct object (de kalender) comes before the verb cluster. Saying Kun je ophangen de kalender? is incorrect.

Why isn’t op separated from hangen here?

Ophangen is a separable verb (op + hangen). It separates only when the verb is finite or in the imperative. As an infinitive, it stays together.

• Statement: Je hangt de kalender op.
• Yes/no question: Hang je de kalender op?
• With a modal: Kun je de kalender ophangen? (stays together)
• Subordinate clause: …dat je de kalender ophangt. (one word)
• With te-infinitive: …om de kalender op te hangen. (op splits before te)

If I replace de kalender with a pronoun, where does it go?

Object pronouns go before the verb cluster:

• Kun je hem ophangen?
  You’ll often see the spoken contraction ’m: Kun je ’m ophangen?
  Note: kalender is a de-word, so use hem (not het).

Why is it de kalender and not het kalender?

Kalender is a de-word in Dutch: de kalender (plural: kalenders). There’s no meaning difference—just a grammatical gender/class rule you memorize.

What’s the difference between alsjeblieft and alstublieft?

Both mean “please,” but:

• alsjeblieft = informal (with je/jij)
• alstublieft = formal/polite (with u) Examples:
• Kun je …, alsjeblieft?
• Kunt u …, alstublieft?

Is the comma before alsjeblieft necessary?

No. The comma is optional and reflects a small pause in speech. Both are fine:

• Kun je de kalender ophangen, alsjeblieft?
• Kun je de kalender ophangen alsjeblieft?

Where can I put alsjeblieft in the sentence?

Most common:

• At the end: Kun je de kalender ophangen, alsjeblieft?
• At the beginning: Alsjeblieft, kun je de kalender ophangen? You can also insert it parenthetically with commas, but that’s less common in everyday writing.

How do I say this to more than one person?

Use jullie:

• Kunnen jullie de kalender ophangen, alsjeblieft?
  For politeness: Willen jullie de kalender ophangen, alsjeblieft?
  Imperatives don’t change for plural: Hang de kalender op, alsjeblieft.

How do I say where to hang it?

Add a prepositional phrase before the verb cluster:

• Kun je de kalender aan de muur/in de keuken ophangen? Imperative:
• Hang de kalender aan de muur op, alsjeblieft.

Can I use hangen instead of ophangen?

Yes, sometimes. Ophangen means “to hang up (put in place).” Hangen can be transitive in this sense when you name the location:

• Kun je de kalender aan de muur hangen? (also fine) But ophangen emphasizes the act of putting it up; it’s the default for this task.

How do I say it in the past?

• Perfect: Heb je de kalender opgehangen?
• Simple past: Hing je de kalender op?
  Past participle is opgehangen (prefix + ge + stem).

How do I emphasize you?

Use stressed jij:

• Kun jij de kalender ophangen?
  This implies “Can you (as opposed to someone else) hang up the calendar?”

Are there common softening words I can add?

Yes—very common in Dutch requests:

• even (just/for a moment): Kun je de kalender even ophangen?
• maar (softening particle): Hang de kalender maar even op, alsjeblieft.
  These make the request sound friendlier and less imposing.