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16
Separable
and
inseparable
verbs
108
Erik zegt dat hij en Sanne zaterdag willen uitgaan.
Erik says that he and Sanne want to go out on Saturday.
Erik zegt dat hij het theater voor kaarten op gaat bellen.
Erik says that he is going to call the theater for tickets.
Erik zegt dat hij het theater voor kaarten gaat opbellen.
Erik says that he is going to call the theater for tickets.
Note: A third alternative, with the conjugated modal verb at the end
(uitgaan willen), is only possible in certain cases, and therefore not
preferred.
What happens in the present perfect tense?
When used in a subordinated sentence with a modal (or other auxiliary)
verb in the present perfect, the separable verb can be split up, the separable
prefix taking the position before the infinitives of the two auxiliary
verbs, as in examples 2a and 2b, or it can appear unseparated at the very
end of the sentence, as in examples 1a and 1b.
1a) Erik zegt dat hij en Sanne zaterdag hebben willen uitgaan.
Erik says that he and Sanne wanted to go out on Saturday.
2a) Erik zegt dat hij en Sanne zaterdag uit hebben willen gaan.
Erik says that he and Sanne wanted to go out on Saturday.
1b) Sanne vertelt dat hij het theater heeft moeten opbellen.
Sanne said that he had to phone the theater.
2b) Sanne vertelt dat hij het theater op heeft moeten bellen.
Sanne said that he had to phone the theater.
Again, each of the two examples is grammatically correct, but the separated
form of the main verb is more common in speech.
Separable verbs in the conditional with zou
When a separable verb is used in the conditional with zou in a subordinated
sentence, there are various possible positions of zou within the verb
constituent. Examples:
Main sentence: Erik zou het theater opbellen.
Erik would call the theater.