Mijn broer fietst snel in het park.

My brother bikes quickly in the park.

Breakdown of Mijn broer fietst snel in het park.

• in: in
• het park: the park
• mijn: my
• fietsen: to bike
• snel: quickly
• de broer: the brother

Questions & Answers about Mijn broer fietst snel in het park.

What does the verb fietst mean in this sentence?

Fietst is the third-person singular present tense form of the verb fietsen, which means to cycle or to ride a bicycle. This indicates that my brother cycles.

Why does the verb fietst end in -t?

In Dutch, regular verbs in the present tense add -t for the singular third person (he, she, it). Since mijn broer is third person singular, fietsen becomes fietst.

How is the word order structured in this sentence?

Dutch main clauses typically follow a subject-verb-adverbial pattern. Here, Mijn broer (subject) comes first, followed by fietst (verb) in the second position, then snel (adverb of manner), and finally in het park (prepositional phrase indicating location). This adheres to the V2 (verb-second) rule in Dutch.

What function does the prepositional phrase in het park serve?

The phrase in het park acts as an adverbial modifier that tells us where the action takes place. In is the preposition, het is the definite article, and park is the noun, together indicating the location of the cycling.

Why is the adverb snel positioned directly after the verb?

Adverbs of manner, like snel (meaning quickly), are typically placed immediately after the finite verb in Dutch main clauses. This placement directly modifies the verb, explaining how the action is performed.

What do the words Mijn and broer mean?

Mijn means my and broer means brother. Together, Mijn broer translates to my brother.

How would the sentence change if referring to a sister instead of a brother?

To refer to a sister, change broer to zus. The sentence becomes: Mijn zus fietst snel in het park. The verb remains unchanged because it still refers to a third-person singular subject.