Learn Dutch: We wachten bij het ontbijtbuffet zonder dat de ober de melk bijvult. - We wait at the breakfast buffet without the waiter refilling the milk.

In Dutch, you must use zonder dat when the subjects of the two actions are different. In this sentence, we are waiting, but de ober (the waiter) is the one who isn't refilling the milk. If the subjects were the same (e.g., 'We wait without complaining'), you would use zonder te + infinitive instead.

Why does the verb bijvult go at the very end of the sentence?

The phrase zonder dat works as a subordinating conjunction. This means it introduces a dependent clause and forces the conjugated verb (bijvult) to the very end of that clause.

The verb for 'to refill' is bijvullen, which is separable. Why isn't it split into vult ... bij here?

In a standard main clause, a separable verb splits (for example: De ober vult de melk bij). However, because zonder dat pushes the verb to the end of the dependent clause, the separable parts are forced back together and written as one single word: bijvult.

Could I use aan instead of bij for 'at the breakfast buffet'?