Learn Hardcore Dutch: Wij gaan samen tekenen in de tuin, want we willen mooie tekeningen maken. - We are going to draw together in the garden, because we want to make beautiful drawings.

Both Wij and we translate to “we” in English. Wij is the stressed, more emphatic form used when you want to highlight the subject, while we is the unstressed, everyday form. In this sentence, the speaker starts with Wij to emphasize “we,” then later uses we for a smoother, less emphatic continuation.

What is the role of tekenen in this sentence, and why is it positioned after gaan samen?

Tekenen is the infinitive form meaning “to draw.” In Dutch, when using an auxiliary verb like gaan (meaning “to go” or indicating a future intention), the main verb (here, tekenen) appears in its base form and is placed later in the clause. The adverb samen (“together”) further modifies the action, making the phrase equivalent to “are going to draw together.”

How does the conjunction want function in this sentence?

The word want acts as a coordinating conjunction meaning “because.” It connects two independent clauses: the first clause states what the speakers are doing (Wij gaan samen tekenen in de tuin), and the second explains the reason behind it (we willen mooie tekeningen maken). A comma is used before want in accordance with Dutch punctuation rules for connecting clauses.

Why is the adjective mooie used in its particular form before tekeningen?

Mooie is the inflected form of the adjective meaning “beautiful” or “nice.” In Dutch, adjectives placed before a noun typically take on an -e ending when the noun is definite or in the plural. Since tekeningen is a plural noun (“drawings”), the adjective becomes mooie to meet these grammatical requirements.

What function does the prepositional phrase in de tuin serve in the sentence?

In de tuin is a prepositional phrase indicating location—it means “in the garden.” This phrase functions as an adverbial modifier, specifying where the drawing activity takes place and adding contextual detail to the action described.

How is the modal structure used in the second clause with willen and maken?

In the second clause, willen is a modal verb meaning “want,” and it governs the main verb maken (“to make”). Dutch sentence structure requires that when a modal verb is used, the main verb is shifted to the end of the clause. Therefore, the construction we willen mooie tekeningen maken follows the typical order: subject + modal verb + object adjective + noun + main verb.