ABSTRACT
This unit introduces some verbs that are used to express movement to a location, as in English “I put the wallet in my bag”, and the result of that movement, as in English “The wallet is in my bag”. To distinguish between the two groups of verbs as listed below, it is helpful to remember that the action verbs are transitive, they need a direct object, while the result verbs are intransitive. Overview:
Action (transitive) Result (intransitive)
zetten set, put, place staan stand stoppen/steken put, stick, stuff zitten sit leggen lay liggen lie hangen hang hangen hang
The verb zetten is used when you put an object somewhere which then stands in an upright position. When it is in that position, you use the verb staan. Examples:
Ik zet het boek in de kast. I put (place) the book in the bookcase. Sanne zet bloemen in een vaas. Sanne puts flowers in a vase. We zetten de vaas op tafel. We put the vase on the table. Ze hebben hier een nieuw huis They put a new house here. neergezet. Het boek staat in de kast. The book is in the bookcase. De bloemen staan in de vaas. The flowers are in the vase. De vaas staat op tafel. The vase is on the table. Ons huis staat op een hoek. Our house is (sits) on a corner.
