Gast spreekt met Tom.

Tom

Breakdown of Gast spreekt met Tom.

• spreken: to speak
• met: with
• de gast: the guest

Questions & Answers about Gast spreekt met Tom.

How do I know that Gast is the subject in this sentence?

In Dutch, as in English, the subject usually comes right before the verb. Here, Gast is at the beginning, and the verb spreekt (meaning “speaks”) agrees with it, indicating that Gast is the one performing the action.

What does the word gast mean, and why is there no article before it?

Gast translates to “guest” in English. The absence of an article can be a stylistic choice in Dutch, especially in short, informal sentences. Similar to headlines or brief statements in English, the noun is used without a definite or indefinite article here.

What is the conjugation of the verb spreekt, and how does it relate to the subject?

Spreekt is the third person singular present tense form of the verb spreken (“to speak”). It matches the singular subject Gast, confirming that only one person is carrying out the speaking action.

What function does the preposition met serve in this sentence?

Met is a preposition that means “with” in English. It introduces the person with whom the subject is speaking—in this case, Tom—and indicates the relationship between Gast and Tom.

Why is Tom used without an article in this sentence?

Tom is a proper noun, and just like in English, proper nouns in Dutch typically do not take an article unless the context specifically requires one. Thus, his name stands alone without an article.