Wij staan in de rij voor de kassa.

We stand in line for the cash register.

Breakdown of Wij staan in de rij voor de kassa.

• wij: we
• in: in
• voor: for
• staan: to stand
• de kassa: the cash register
• de rij: the line

Questions & Answers about Wij staan in de rij voor de kassa.

What does the verb staan mean in this sentence, and why is it used instead of another verb like zitten?

The verb staan literally means “to stand.” In this context, it indicates that the people are physically standing while they wait. Since people typically queue on their feet rather than sitting down, staan is the appropriate choice over verbs like zitten (which means “to sit”).

How should I understand the phrase in de rij in terms of its meaning and structure?

The phrase in de rij translates to “in line” or “in the queue.” In this phrase, in is a preposition denoting location, de is the definite article, and rij means “line” or “queue.” Together, they specify where the subject is positioned.

Why is the preposition voor used in voor de kassa, and what does it indicate?

The preposition voor generally means “in front of.” In voor de kassa, it indicates that the queue is positioned in front of the cash register. Although English might sometimes use “at” or “by” for similar locations, the Dutch voor emphasizes the direct positioning in front of an object.

Can you explain the overall structure of the sentence Wij staan in de rij voor de kassa?

Absolutely. The sentence begins with the subject Wij (“we”), followed by the verb staan (“are standing”). It is then supplemented by two prepositional phrases: in de rij (“in line/queue”), which explains where the action is taking place, and voor de kassa (“in front of the cash register”), which provides further detail about the location. This structure—subject, verb, and multiple prepositional phrases—is typical in Dutch sentence construction.

Why is the subject pronoun Wij explicitly included, even though the context might already imply “we”?

In Dutch, including the subject pronoun—Wij in this case—is common practice. It not only clarifies who is performing the action but also adds emphasis and formality to the sentence. Even if the context makes it obvious, explicitly stating the subject helps maintain grammatical clarity in both spoken and written Dutch.