Na de aankomst van onze familie, omhelzen we elkaar uit blijdschap.

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Breakdown of Na de aankomst van onze familie, omhelzen we elkaar uit blijdschap.

• onze: our
• de familie: the family
• na: after
• van: from
• de aankomst: the arrival
• omhelzen: to hug
• elkaar: each other
• uit: out of
• de blijdschap: the joy

Questions & Answers about Na de aankomst van onze familie, omhelzen we elkaar uit blijdschap.

What is the function of the introductory phrase Na de aankomst van onze familie?

It provides the temporal context of the sentence, indicating that the main action takes place after the family has arrived. This phrase sets the stage for what follows.

Why does the main clause begin with the verb omhelzen instead of starting with the subject we?

In Dutch, when a sentence starts with an introductory element (like a temporal phrase), the finite verb moves to the second position. This inversion—a key feature of the V2 (verb-second) word order—places the subject we after the verb.

What does the pronoun elkaar signify in this sentence?

Elkaar means "each other" and signals a reciprocal action. It indicates that the family members are mutually embracing one another.

How is the preposition uit functioning in the phrase uit blijdschap?

In this context, uit is used to express the cause or manner of the action—essentially meaning "out of" or "with" joy. It tells us that the act of embracing is motivated by joy.

Is the comma after Na de aankomst van onze familie necessary?

Yes, the comma is used to clearly separate the introductory temporal phrase from the main clause. This punctuation helps indicate the natural pause and enhances the clarity of the sentence structure.

Why is the definite article de used before aankomst?

In Dutch, the noun aankomst is of common gender, which requires the definite article de. This agreement between noun and article is a fundamental part of Dutch grammar.

How does the sentence structure here differ from typical English word order?

While both Dutch and English can start with an introductory temporal phrase (e.g., "After the arrival of our family"), Dutch requires the verb to occupy the second position due to the V2 rule. In English, the subject typically follows the introductory phrase (e.g., "After the arrival of our family, we embrace each other in joy"), but Dutch inverts the subject and verb to maintain its word order rules.