from the 100% free Hear Dutch Here Website — more verbs | ||||||||||||||||||
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— Liggen, zitten, staan, lopen —
De Duurvorm - A Dutch Continuous/Progressive - Short | ||||||||||||||||||
The English continuous, indicating ongoing activities, action in progress,
is often translated into Dutch just as a simple present, for instance:
To describe an action in progress, Dutch can use the verbs: 'zitten' (to sit, to be seated), 'liggen' 2 (to lie, be lying down), 'staan' (to stand, to be standing) or 'lopen' 2 (to walk) with te and a verb infinitive. There is not always an activity involved like the zitten etc. verbs usually indicate. For instance, I don't have to be sitting down when I say: Ik zat te wachten op een telefoontje I was waiting for a phone call, I was expecting a phone call Or also: Ze zit erop te wachten 2 3 She's waiting for it - she expects or needs it soon Hij zit te zwammen. He's talking nonsense. Hij ligt te etteren. 2 He's engaging in provocative, useless talk or actions, making a nuisance of himself - obnoxious, being a pest (probably not lying down while doing that) | ||||||||||||||||||
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