Breakdown of De trein komt om drie uur aan.
drie
three
de trein
the train
het uur
the hour / o'clock
om
at (time)
aankomen
to arrive
Questions & Answers about De trein komt om drie uur aan.
Why are komt and aan separated in this sentence?
This sentence uses the separable verb aankomen (to arrive). In a standard main clause in the present tense, the verb splits. The main part (komt) takes the normal verb position right after the subject, and the prefix (aan) is pushed all the way to the end of the sentence.
What is the full dictionary form of the verb used here?
The full verb is aankomen. It is made of the prefix aan and the basic verb komen (to come). Separable verbs are always listed as one combined word in the dictionary.
Why do we use om here?
In Dutch, the preposition om is used to indicate specific times on the clock, just like "at" in English. So "at three o'clock" is always translated as om drie uur.
Does the word uur mean "hour" or "o'clock"?
It actually means both! While uur literally translates to "hour", Dutch uses it directly when telling time on the clock. So drie uur simply means "three o'clock".
Learn De trein komt om drie uur aan and more in Dutch
All course content and exercises are completely free — no paywalls, no trial periods, no signup needed.
- ✓ Practice with interactive exercises
- ✓ Track your progress with spaced repetition
- ✓Learn at your own pace — completely free