Whether you are catching the ferry (de pont) or rushing to make a connection (de aansluiting), Dutch uses the short particles pas, nog, and al to manage expectations about time.
Later Than Expected with "Pas"
Pas translates to "not until" or "only." Use it when something happens later than you expected or hoped.
| The ferry doesn't leave until half past two. | De pont vertrekt pas om half drie. |
| The connection is not until two o'clock. | De aansluiting is pas om twee uur. |
Ongoing Situations with "Nog"
Nog means "still." It shows that an action or state is continuing and hasn't changed yet.
| Is there still a ferry to the station? | Is er nog een pont naar het station? |
| The passengers are still waiting on the platform. | De passagiers wachten nog op het perron. |
Earlier Than Expected with "Al"
Al translates to "already." Use it when something happens sooner than expected.
| The bus is already at the stop. | De bus staat al bij de halte. |
| I am in a hurry, because it is already late. | Ik heb haast, want het is al laat. |
Bringing It Together
When navigating public transit, these particles frequently appear alongside words for disruptions, such as a strike (de staking) or cancellations.
| The trains are already getting cancelled because of the snow. | De treinen vallen al uit door de sneeuw. |
You can even use multiple time particles in a single sentence to contrast delays and expectations.
| The trip is already cancelled, because the train driver does not start until tomorrow. | De rit valt al uit, want de machinist begint pas morgen. |
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