Breakdown of Zullen we even wat wijn inschenken?
zullen
shall / will
de wijn
the wine
we
we (unstressed form of wij)
wat
something / some (a little)
even
just, for a moment (particle)
inschenken
to pour
Questions & Answers about Zullen we even wat wijn inschenken?
What does even do in this sentence?
The word even literally means 'briefly' or 'for a moment', but here it is used as a modal particle to soften the suggestion. It makes the idea of pouring wine sound casual, cozy, and low-pressure, much like saying 'just' in English.
Why use zullen instead of a normal present tense verb?
Starting a question with zullen we is the standard Dutch way to make a polite suggestion or propose doing something together, exactly like saying 'shall we' in English.
I learned wat means 'what'. Why does it mean 'some' here?
You are right that wat is the question word for 'what'. However, it is also very commonly used as a pronoun meaning 'some' or 'a little bit of' when placed before an uncountable noun like wijn.
Why is inschenken at the very end of the sentence?
Because the sentence starts with the modal verb zullen (shall). In Dutch, a modal verb pushes the second verb (inschenken) to the very end of the clause in its full dictionary form (the infinitive).
Is inschenken a separable verb?
Yes, it is made of in + schenken (to pour in). Because zullen pushes it to the end of the sentence as an infinitive, the two parts stay glued together. If you used it as the main verb, they would split, for example: ik schenk wat wijn in (I pour some wine).
Learn Zullen we even wat wijn inschenken 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