Breakdown of Ik drink bijna altijd koffie in de ochtend.
ik
I
drinken
to drink
in
in
altijd
always
de ochtend
the morning
de koffie
the coffee
bijna
almost
Questions & Answers about Ik drink bijna altijd koffie in de ochtend.
Why does bijna altijd come right after the verb, instead of before it like in English?
In Dutch main clauses, the verb must be the second idea in the sentence. Adverbs of frequency like altijd, soms, or nooit usually come immediately after that verb. So instead of "I almost always drink," you say "I drink almost always" (Ik drink bijna altijd).
Can I use bijna with other frequency words from this lesson?
Yes! Bijna means "almost," so it pairs perfectly with altijd (almost always) and nooit (bijna nooit = almost never). You wouldn't use it with words like soms (sometimes) or vaak (often) for the same reason you wouldn't in English.
Is it also correct to put in de ochtend before koffie?
Yes, absolutely. Dutch loves to put time information early in the sentence. Saying Ik drink bijna altijd in de ochtend koffie is excellent Dutch. Putting in de ochtend at the very end, as done in this sentence, is also fine and sounds natural.
Is there another common way to say in de ochtend?
Yes, you will very often hear 's ochtends, which is a classic Dutch time word that means "in the morning" or "mornings". For example, you could say: Ik drink 's ochtends bijna altijd koffie.
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