Questions & Answers about Ik wil 's middags in de spits niet op de metro overstappen.
Why do the time phrases come before op de metro?
Dutch sentences follow a Time-Manner-Place (TMP) order in the middle of the sentence. Because 's middags in de spits answers 'when' (Time) and op de metro answers 'where to' (Place), the time phrases must come first.
There are two time phrases ('s middags and in de spits). Does their order matter?
Yes! When a sentence has multiple time expressions, Dutch usually goes from general to specific. 's middags (in the afternoon) is a broader time frame, and in de spits (during rush hour) is a more specific block of time within it, so the broader one goes first.
Why is niet placed in the middle of the sentence instead of at the end?
The word niet generally comes after specific time phrases (like in de spits) but before prepositional phrases that indicate a place or direction (like op de metro). Here, it sits right before the place phrase it applies to.
What does the 's stand for in 's middags?
It is a remnant of old Dutch grammar standing for des, which means 'of the'. While it literally translates to 'of the afternoon', it is just the standard way to say 'in the afternoon'. You will also see this in 's morgens (in the morning) and 's avonds (in the evening).