Ik fiets graag in het park.

I like to bike in the park.

Breakdown of Ik fiets graag in het park.

• ik: I
• in: in
• het park: the park
• fietsen: to bike
• graag: like

Questions & Answers about Ik fiets graag in het park.

What does the word fiets mean in this sentence?

Fiets is the first person singular present tense form of the verb fietsen, which means "to bike" or "to cycle." So Ik fiets translates as "I bike."

How is the adverb graag used in this sentence?

Graag means "with pleasure" or "like to." It indicates that the speaker enjoys the activity. In Ik fiets graag in het park, it tells us that the speaker likes biking—in other words, “I like to bike.”

Why is the article het used before park?

In Dutch, nouns have a grammatical gender. The word park is a neuter noun, so it takes the definite article het. That’s why we say het park to mean "the park."

What is the basic sentence structure seen here, and how does it compare to English?

The structure is similar to English in that it follows a Subject-Verb-Adverb-Prepositional Phrase order. Ik is the subject, fiets is the verb, graag is an adverb modifying the verb, and in het park is a prepositional phrase indicating the location. While the order is quite similar, note that Dutch adverbs like graag are placed directly after the verb.

Can the position of graag change in longer or more complex sentences?

Generally, in simple sentences like this one, graag is placed right after the verb. In more complex Dutch sentences, the position of adverbs may shift for emphasis or due to sentence structure rules. However, using graag immediately after the verb is standard and clear in conveying that the speaker enjoys the activity.

Is there a difference in nuance between saying Ik fiets graag in het park and a sentence like Ik geniet van fietsen in het park?

Yes, there is a subtle difference. Ik fiets graag in het park simply states that the speaker likes to bike in the park, emphasizing the activity as something the speaker regularly does with pleasure. In contrast, Ik geniet van fietsen in het park means "I enjoy biking in the park" and places more emphasis on the experience and enjoyment of the biking itself.