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84
UNIT TWELVE
Verbs of action and result
Introduction
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
Zetten and staan
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.