Learn Dutch: De passagiers wachten nog op het perron. - The passengers are still waiting on the platform.

In this lesson's context, nog translates to 'still.' It shows that the action of waiting started in the past and is continuing right now. Without nog, the sentence would simply mean 'The passengers are waiting on the platform.'

Why does this sentence use the simple present wachten instead of a continuous form for 'are waiting'?

Dutch often uses the simple present tense to express actions happening right now. While you could say zijn nog aan het wachten, the simple verb wachten combined with the time particle nog perfectly captures the ongoing English 'are still waiting' without needing extra verbs.

Why is the word order wachten nog op and not nog wachten op?

In a standard Dutch main clause, the conjugated verb (wachten) must take the second position. Small time adverbs like nog typically come immediately after the verb (and after any specific object), placing it right before the prepositional phrase op het perron.

The word perron looks like a loanword. Are there any tricks to remembering its article?

Yes, perron is a loanword from French. It is a neuter word, which is why it takes het. Many French loanwords in Dutch are het words, especially those ending in a stressed suffix like '-on' or '-ment'.