Breakdown of Bij wijze van proef delen we gratis pizza uit.
wij
we
bij
at / near / by
de pizza
the pizza
van
from (possession, starting point) / made of
uitdelen
to hand out
gratis
free
de proef
the experiment
de wijze
the manner / the way
Questions & Answers about Bij wijze van proef delen we gratis pizza uit.
How does bij wijze van relate to the suffixes taught in this lesson?
Bij wijze van is a fixed phrase meaning "by way of" or "as a." It functions just like the suffixes -wijze or -gewijs by turning a noun into an adverb of manner. While you can sometimes use a single word with a suffix, using bij wijze van followed by a noun is a very common alternative to describe how an action is performed.
Can I use bij wijze van with other words, or is it only for proef?
You can use it with many different words! It is a highly versatile phrase. Common examples include bij wijze van spreken (so to speak / figuratively speaking), bij wijze van uitzondering (as an exception), and bij wijze van grap (as a joke).
Why is the word order delen we instead of we delen?
This is a classic example of the V2 (verb-second) rule. Because the sentence begins with the adverbial phrase Bij wijze van proef, the finite verb (delen) must sit in the second grammatical position. This forces the subject (we) to invert and take the position immediately after the verb.
Why is the word uit at the very end of the sentence?
It is the prefix of the separable verb uitdelen, which means "to hand out" or "to distribute." In a main clause, the conjugated part of the verb (delen) moves to the second position, and the separable prefix (uit) gets pushed to the very end of the sentence.
Why doesn't gratis get an -e ending before the noun pizza?
The word gratis (free) is an invariable adjective in Dutch. This means it is an exception to the normal adjective spelling rules and never takes an -e ending, regardless of the noun's gender, plurality, or whether you are using a definite or indefinite article.
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