Ik maak het licht aan.
English: I turn on the light.
- Language
- Dutch
- Level
- B1
- Unit
- Werkwoordtypen en diathese
- Practice types
- 0
What this grammar point covers
Separable verbs in Dutch are verbs made up of a main verb and a prefix. In certain sentences, the prefix is separated from the verb and placed at the end of the sentence.
When to use it
You use separable verbs in Dutch when you want to express actions that are often related to movement, direction, or a change of state. The prefix changes the meaning of the main verb.
Key forms
- Present simple: Ik sta op.
- Infinitive: opstaan
- Perfect tense: Ik ben opgestaan.
- Imperative: Sta op!
Examples
Hij belt zijn moeder op.
English: He calls his mother.
Wij staan elke dag vroeg op.
English: We get up early every day.
Zij schrijft de boodschap op.
English: She writes down the message.
Tips
- In main clauses, the prefix goes to the end of the sentence.
- In subordinate clauses or with modal verbs, the verb and prefix stay together.
- Pay attention to the meaning: the prefix can change the verb's meaning a lot.
Exceptions and edge cases
- Some prefixes are never separated (like 'ver-', 'be-', 'ge-', 'her-', 'ont-', 'er-').
- In the past participle, the prefix comes before 'ge-' (for example: 'opgestaan').