Breakdown of Wij betalen de aankoop kosteloos terug.
de aankoop
the purchase
kosteloos
free of charge
terugbetalen
to refund / to pay back
Questions & Answers about Wij betalen de aankoop kosteloos terug.
As a B2 learner, I know terugbetalen is a separable verb. Does the prefix terug always have to go after adverbs like kosteloos?
Yes. In a main clause, the separable prefix (terug) acts as an anchor at the very end of the sentence. All other details, including the direct object (de aankoop) and adverbs of manner (kosteloos), must be placed before it.
Since this lesson covers the grammar of dan ook, how would I change this sentence to say 'We refund ANY purchase whatsoever free of charge'?
You would use the phrase welke aankoop dan ook (literally: whichever purchase then also). The sentence becomes: Wij betalen welke aankoop dan ook kosteloos terug. This is the standard way to combine an interrogative pronoun with dan ook to express 'any [noun] whatsoever'.
Could I use gratis instead of kosteloos in this sentence?
Yes, you could use gratis, which means the exact same thing. However, kosteloos (literally 'costless') sounds a bit more formal and professional, making it the standard vocabulary choice for official business or retail policies.
Can I move kosteloos to the start of the sentence to emphasize that the refund is truly free?
Yes, you can say Kosteloos betalen wij de aankoop terug. By placing the adverb in the first position, you emphasize it heavily. Just remember that doing so triggers inversion, meaning the conjugated verb (betalen) must come before the subject (wij) to maintain the strict verb-second rule.
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