Word
Ik wil nu graag een boek lezen.
Meaning
I would like to read a book now.
Part of speech
sentence
Pronunciation
Course
Lesson
Breakdown of Ik wil nu graag een boek lezen.
ik
I
het boek
the book
lezen
to read
willen
to want
een
a, an
graag
gladly
nu
now
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Questions & Answers about Ik wil nu graag een boek lezen.
Which part of the sentence is the main verb?
wil is the main verb in its conjugated form, meaning “to want.” The action “reading” is expressed by the infinitive lezen.
What does the word order in this sentence look like, and why is it structured this way?
In Dutch, the finite (conjugated) verb typically appears in the second position when making a statement. Here, Ik (the subject) comes first, wil (the conjugated verb) follows, then modifiers like nu and graag, next the direct object een boek, and finally the infinitive verb lezen at the end.
Why do we need graag here, and can we leave it out?
graag adds a sense of enjoyment or eagerness to the sentence. If you leave graag out, you still say you want to read a book, but you lose the nuance that you are happy or eager to do it.
What does nu mean, and where can it appear in the sentence?
nu means “now,” referring to the current time. It usually appears right after the verb or toward the beginning for emphasis. For example, you can say Nu wil ik graag een boek lezen, which places greater focus on the time aspect.
How does the pronunciation of graag differ from similar words in English?
The g in graag is a guttural sound produced at the back of the throat, which doesn’t exist in standard English. The r can be either a rolling sound or a more uvular sound, depending on the Dutch region. Both can be tricky for English speakers at first and may require practice to master.
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