Ik luister graag naar regen.

I like to listen to rain.

Breakdown of Ik luister graag naar regen.

• ik: I
• naar: to
• luisteren: to listen
• graag: gladly
• de regen: the rain

Questions & Answers about Ik luister graag naar regen.

What does graag mean in this sentence?

The adverb graag indicates that the speaker enjoys the action of listening. It is best translated as “with pleasure” or “like,” which conveys that the person likes listening to rain.

Why is the preposition naar used after luister?

In Dutch, the verb luisteren always pairs with the preposition naar to show what is being listened to. This construction (luisteren naar) is equivalent to the English “listen to.”

How is the verb luisteren conjugated in this sentence?

The verb is conjugated as luister, which is the correct first-person singular (ik) present tense form of luisteren. This matches the subject ik (“I”).

Why is graag placed immediately after luister instead of in another position?

In Dutch sentence structure, adverbs like graag that describe the manner or preference of an action are typically placed directly after the conjugated verb. This placement makes the sentence sound natural and emphasizes the enjoyment of the action.

Is it acceptable that there is no article before regen?

Yes, it is correct to use regen without an article in this context. When referring to rain as a general phenomenon rather than a specific instance, Dutch, like English, often omits the definite article.