Wij bereiden samen het avondeten.

We prepare dinner together.

Breakdown of Wij bereiden samen het avondeten.

• wij: we
• samen: together
• het avondeten: the dinner
• bereiden: to prepare

Questions & Answers about Wij bereiden samen het avondeten.

Why does the sentence use wij instead of we?

In Dutch, wij and we both mean we in English. However, wij is more emphatic, while we is the reduced form. Native speakers often use we in everyday speech, but wij can be used for emphasis or clarity.

Is there a difference between using koken and bereiden in this context?

Both can be translated to cook or prepare in English, but bereiden has a slightly broader meaning. Koken usually refers to the cooking process itself (often with heat), while bereiden can include all the preparatory steps like chopping, mixing, and setting up ingredients as well as the actual cooking.

Why is samen placed directly before het avondeten?

In Dutch, adverbs like samen (together) can appear before or after the verb phrase. Placing samen here emphasizes the idea that the action (het avondeten bereiden) is done collectively. There is also some flexibility; you could say Wij bereiden het avondeten samen, which is just as correct but slightly changes the rhythm of the sentence.

Can I switch the word order to Het avondeten bereiden wij samen?

Yes, you can. Dutch word order is relatively flexible, especially in main clauses. By starting with het avondeten, you are putting more focus on the dinner itself. The meaning remains the same, but you shift the emphasis.

Why do we say het avondeten instead of de avondeten?

Avondeten is a neuter noun in Dutch, so it takes the article het. Nouns can be classified as de words or het words. There’s no easy rule for all nouns—it’s something you often have to memorize.