Breakdown of De gasten komen druppelsgewijs aan op het feest.
op
on
het feest
the party
het
it
aankomen
to arrive
Questions & Answers about De gasten komen druppelsgewijs aan op het feest.
How is the word druppelsgewijs formed here?
It is formed by combining the noun druppel (drop) with the suffix -gewijs (in the manner of), joined by a linking -s-. Literally meaning 'in the manner of drops,' it is used metaphorically to show that the guests are arriving gradually, in a trickle, or one by one.
Can I use the suffix -wijze instead to say druppelswijze?
No, that would sound unnatural here. The suffix -gewijs is specifically used to attach to nouns (often with a linking -s-) to form adverbs of proportion or manner, like stapsgewijs (step by step) and groepsgewijs (in groups). The suffix -wijze is mostly used in fixed constructions like bij wijze van (by way of).
Why is aan floating in the middle of the sentence?
It is the separable prefix of the verb aankomen (to arrive). Because this is a main clause, the conjugated part komen takes the second position, while the prefix aan is pushed later in the sentence, placing it right before the prepositional phrase op het feest.
Why do we use the preposition op to mean 'at' the party?