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Ze zullen wel onderweg zijn terwijl wij hier wachten.

Ze zullen wel onderweg zijn terwijl wij hier wachten.
They are probably on the way while we wait here.
From Lesson 178:Probability and assumption (zullen)·Dutch

Questions & Answers about Ze zullen wel onderweg zijn terwijl wij hier wachten.

Why does this sentence use zullen if the English translation says 'are' instead of 'will'?
While zullen is commonly used for the future tense, it is also used to express a strong assumption or probability. When combined with the particle wel, the phrase zullen wel translates naturally to 'are probably' or 'must be' in English.
Could I just use waarschijnlijk (probably) instead of zullen wel?
Yes, you could say Ze zijn waarschijnlijk onderweg to mean the exact same thing. However, using zullen wel is an extremely common, everyday way for Dutch speakers to make a guess or state an assumption.
Why is the verb zijn placed right in the middle of the sentence?
The main clause is Ze zullen wel onderweg zijn. Because zullen is the conjugated modal verb in the second position, the infinitive verb zijn (to be) is pushed to the end of that main clause, resting right before the new terwijl clause begins.
Why is the verb wachten at the very end of the sentence rather than after wij?
This is because of the word terwijl (while). It is a subordinating conjunction that introduces a dependent clause. In Dutch, dependent clauses push the conjugated verb (wachten) to the very end. That changes the normal order of wij wachten hier into terwijl wij hier wachten.

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