Learn Dutch: Wij feliciteren de bruid bij het altaar. - We congratulate the bride at the altar.

The verb feliciteren (to congratulate) is a standard transitive verb, meaning it takes a direct object rather than a reflexive pronoun. Here, the action is directed at de bruid (the bride). You only use reflexive pronouns with verbs where the subject performs the action on itself, such as zich vergissen (to make a mistake).

Why do we use bij for "at" in bij het altaar instead of aan?

The preposition bij indicates general proximity, meaning "near" or "gathered around." Standing bij het altaar implies being present in the space next to it. In Dutch, you typically reserve aan for when you are right up against an edge to use it for its intended purpose (like aan de bar or aan tafel).

If we emphasize the location by starting the sentence with Bij het altaar, how does the word order change?

Moving the prepositional phrase to the front triggers inversion. The conjugated verb must stay in the second position, and the subject moves to the third position. The sentence becomes: Bij het altaar feliciteren wij de bruid.

If this were a reflexive sentence (e.g., "The bride enjoys herself at the altar"), how would this lesson's rule apply to the inverted word order?