Word
Vervolgens gaan de passagiers naar buiten.
Meaning
Then the passengers go outside.
Part of speech
sentence
Pronunciation
Course
Breakdown of Vervolgens gaan de passagiers naar buiten.
naar
to
buiten
outside
gaan
to go / to go off (of an alarm)
de passagier
the passenger
Questions & Answers about Vervolgens gaan de passagiers naar buiten.
Why does the sentence use naar buiten instead of just buiten?
In Dutch, buiten just describes a static location (being outside). Because the passengers are actively moving from the inside to the outside, you have to add naar to show the direction of motion. English uses "outside" for both location and direction, but Dutch strictly requires naar buiten for the movement.
Why are the subject and verb swapped here (gaan de passagiers)?
This is because the sentence starts with the adverb Vervolgens (then/subsequently). Whenever a Dutch main clause starts with something other than the subject, inversion happens: the verb must stay in the second position, pushing the subject to the other side of it.
Could I just use dan instead of vervolgens?
Yes, Dan gaan de passagiers naar buiten is perfectly fine and means the same thing. Vervolgens is just a bit more specific and formal; it translates closest to "subsequently" or "next", emphasizing a clear step-by-step sequence of events.
Could I use the verb uitgaan here to say they are going out?
Not in this context! Naar buiten gaan literally means physically stepping outside into the open air. The verb uitgaan means "to go out" for entertainment, such as going to a restaurant, bar, or club.