Word
De bus zal nu wel onderweg zijn.
Meaning
The bus is probably on the way now.
Part of speech
sentence
Pronunciation
Course
Questions & Answers about De bus zal nu wel onderweg zijn.
Why does the translation say "is probably" when zal usually means "will"?
In Dutch, the modal verb zullen (conjugated here as zal) isn't just used for the future tense. It is frequently used to express a strong assumption or probability. When you say De bus zal ... zijn, you are saying "The bus is likely to be..." or "I assume the bus is...".
What is the purpose of wel in this sentence?
Wel is a modal particle that softens the statement and reinforces the assumption. The combination zal wel is a very common way to express "probably" or "I suppose". Without wel, the sentence sounds more like a strict fact or prediction, rather than a hopeful guess about the present moment.
Why is zijn at the very end of the sentence?
This is a quick reminder of how modal verbs affect word order! The conjugated modal verb (zal) takes the second position in the sentence, which pushes the main verb (zijn) to the very end in its full infinitive form.
Can I use onderweg for myself, or is it just for transportation like buses?
You can absolutely use it for people! If you are running late and want to tell a friend that you are currently traveling to meet them, you can simply say Ik ben onderweg (I am on my way).