Inpakken is leuk, want wij gaan op reis.

to be

Breakdown of Inpakken is leuk, want wij gaan op reis.

• wij: we
• gaan: to go
• want: because
• de reis: the trip
• leuk: fun
• op: on
• het inpakken: the packing

Questions & Answers about Inpakken is leuk, want wij gaan op reis.

What does the verb inpakken mean in this sentence?

Inpakken means "to pack". In this sentence it functions as an infinitive serving as the subject, so the sentence essentially reads as "Packing is fun."

Why is the infinitive inpakken used as the subject instead of a noun?

Dutch often uses the infinitive form to represent activities or general actions as subjects, much like the English gerund. This construction allows the speaker to talk about the activity in an abstract way, without needing to convert it into a noun.

What does want mean here, and how does it function in the sentence?

The word want translates to "because". It is a coordinating conjunction that connects the two independent clauses: the first stating that packing is fun, and the second explaining the reason ("we are going on a trip").

Why is there a comma before want in the sentence?

The comma is used to separate two independent clauses for clarity. Although punctuation rules can sometimes vary, in this context the comma helps clearly distinguish that "inpakken is leuk" and "wij gaan op reis" are separate clauses, with the latter providing the reason for the statement in the first.

What does the phrase wij gaan op reis mean?

Wij gaan op reis means "we are going on a trip." Here, wij translates to "we", gaan means "go" (or "are going" in this context), and op reis expresses the idea of being "on a trip" or "traveling."

How does the structure of this Dutch sentence compare to its English equivalent?

The structure is quite similar. Just like the English sentence "Packing is fun, because we are going on a trip," the Dutch sentence uses an activity (inpakken/packing) as the subject, followed by a clause introduced by a conjunction (want/because) that explains the reason. One notable difference is that Dutch uses the bare infinitive as a nominal subject rather than a gerund form, which is a familiar but slightly different construction from English.