Breakdown of Wij willen samen fietsen in de streek.
wij
we
samen
together
in
in
fietsen
to cycle
willen
to want
de streek
the region
Questions & Answers about Wij willen samen fietsen in de streek.
Why is in de streek at the very end of the sentence instead of before the verb fietsen?
Normally, the second verb (fietsen) goes at the very end of a Dutch sentence. However, this sentence uses a trick called extraposition. Dutch allows prepositional phrases (phrases starting with words like in, op, or naar) to be placed after the final verb. This makes the sentence flow nicely and prevents a heavy pile-up of words before the verb.
Is it also grammatically correct to say Wij willen samen in de streek fietsen?
Yes, absolutely! That is the standard, strict Dutch word order, where all the details are sandwiched between the conjugated verb (willen) and the infinitive (fietsen). Moving in de streek to the end is just an optional style choice that native speakers use a lot in everyday speech.
Could I use this same trick to move a direct object to the end of the sentence?
No, extraposition only works for specific parts of a sentence, mostly prepositional phrases like in de streek. You cannot do this with direct objects. If you wanted to say 'We want to cycle a route', it must be Wij willen samen een route fietsen, and never Wij willen samen fietsen een route.
Does the word streek imply a specific type of region?
Yes, while streek translates to region, it often carries a rural, cultural, or traditional feeling. It is commonly used for areas known for specific landscapes, farming, or local products. For a more neutral or administrative area, you would usually use the word regio.
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