Breakdown of Ik moest vaker naar het kantoor gaan.
ik
I
gaan
to go
naar
to
moeten
must
het kantoor
the office
vaker
more often
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Questions & Answers about Ik moest vaker naar het kantoor gaan.
What role does 'moest' play in this sentence?
'Moest' is the simple past tense of the verb 'moeten' (to have to). It indicates that, in the past, there was an obligation or necessity to do something—in this case, to go to the office more often.
Why do we say 'moest ... gaan' instead of just 'moest ...'?
In Dutch, when using 'moeten' plus another verb (such as 'gaan' to indicate movement), you generally place the main verb at the end of the clause. 'Moest gaan' together shows the past tense necessity to go somewhere. So 'Ik moest gaan' specifically means 'I had to go.' Adding 'vaker naar het kantoor' (more often to the office) specifies where and how frequently.
How does 'vaker' differ from other frequency words like 'meestal' or 'soms'?
'Vaker' means 'more often' and implies an increased frequency compared to a previous situation. 'Meestal' means 'usually' or 'most of the time,' and 'soms' means 'sometimes.' So 'vaker' suggests doing something more frequently than before, whereas 'meestal' suggests a general habit or pattern, and 'soms' is occasional.
Is the phrase 'naar het kantoor gaan' a set expression, or can it change?
'Naar het kantoor gaan' literally means 'going to the office.' You can change 'het kantoor' to other destinations, like 'naar de winkel gaan' (to go to the store) or 'naar huis gaan' (to go home). The structure remains the same: 'naar + [location] + gaan.'
How would I shift this sentence to the present tense?
To express the same idea in the present tense, you would say: 'Ik moet vaker naar het kantoor gaan.' The verb changes from past tense 'moest' to present tense 'moet.' The rest of the sentence structure remains the same.
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