Hij gaat even naar de winkel.

He is just going to the store.

Breakdown of Hij gaat even naar de winkel.

• hij: he
• gaan: to go
• naar: to
• de winkel: the store
• even: just

Questions & Answers about Hij gaat even naar de winkel.

What does the adverb even mean in this sentence?

In this context, even implies that the action will be very brief or temporary. It can be understood similarly to the English words just or for a moment, suggesting that his trip to the store won’t take long.

Why is even placed right after the verb gaat instead of at the end of the sentence?

In Dutch, it’s common for adverbs like even to follow the conjugated verb. This placement emphasizes the manner or the duration of the action immediately after stating what is happening, making the sentence flow naturally and clearly.

How is the verb gaat used here, and why is it in the present tense?

Gaat is the third person singular present form of the verb gaan (to go). Dutch often uses the present tense to talk about actions that are imminent or scheduled to happen very soon, much like saying “He is going…” in English to indicate a near-future action.

What role does the preposition naar play in this sentence?

Naar means to or toward in English. It indicates the direction of the movement—specifically, where hij is heading. In this case, it shows that he is going to the store.

Why is the noun winkel preceded by the article de?

In Dutch, de is the definite article used with common gender nouns (masculine or feminine). Since winkel (store) is a common noun, it is correctly preceded by de, which translates to the in English.

Is this sentence structure typical in Dutch, and can it be used in both formal and informal contexts?

Yes, the structure—subject (hij), verb (gaat), adverb (even), followed by the prepositional phrase (naar de winkel)—is quite typical in Dutch. The sentence is casual and commonly used in everyday conversation, though it is also acceptable in general non-formal contexts.