Breakdown of Zij zullen morgen afspreken bij de dierentuin.
zij
they
morgen
tomorrow
bij
at / near / by
zullen
shall / will
Questions & Answers about Zij zullen morgen afspreken bij de dierentuin.
Why is bij de dierentuin at the very end of the sentence, after the verb afspreken?
This is an example of extraposition (uittreding). Normally in Dutch, the infinitive verb (afspreken) goes at the very end of the sentence. However, you are allowed to take a prepositional phrase (a phrase starting with a preposition like bij) and place it outside this "verb bracket," after the final verb. This is very common and often makes sentences sound less heavy.
Would it be wrong to say Zij zullen morgen bij de dierentuin afspreken?
Not at all! That is the strict standard word order, keeping all verbs at the end of the clause. Both versions are completely correct and mean the exact same thing. Moving the location phrase to the end is just a stylistic choice that native speakers use frequently.
I usually use ontmoeten for "to meet". Why is afspreken used here instead?
While ontmoeten means "to meet" or "to encounter," it often implies bumping into someone or meeting them for the first time. Afspreken specifically means to make an arrangement, appointment, or plan to meet up. Since they are planning a specific time and place (tomorrow at the zoo), afspreken is the natural choice.
Can I use ze instead of zij in this sentence?