Breakdown of Niemand mag hier naar binnen, behalve ik.
ik
I
hier
here
naar
to
binnen
inside
mogen
to be allowed to / may
niemand
no one
behalve
except / besides
Questions & Answers about Niemand mag hier naar binnen, behalve ik.
Why is it behalve ik (except I) instead of behalve mij (except me)?
When using behalve (except), the pronoun usually matches the grammatical role of the word it refers back to. Here, it is comparing you to the subject of the sentence, niemand (nobody). Because it refers back to a subject, it requires the subject pronoun ik. English speakers usually say "except me", but in Dutch, it is conceptually like saying "Nobody may enter, except I [may enter]."
Where is the verb for "to go" or "to enter" in this sentence?
It has been left out because it is implied! In Dutch, when you use a modal verb like mogen (to be allowed to) alongside a clear directional phrase like naar binnen (inside), you do not need to add the actual verb of motion like gaan (to go) or komen (to come).
Could I just say hier binnen instead of hier naar binnen?
Not in this context. Binnen indicates that you are already inside (a fixed location), whereas naar binnen indicates movement or direction (going inside). Since this sentence is about the act of entering a space, you must use the directional naar binnen.
Why does hier come before naar binnen?
In Dutch word order, specific location words like hier (here) or daar (there) generally come right before the directional phrase. You can think of hier naar binnen as working together as a single unit meaning "inwards to this place here."
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