Learn Hardcore Dutch: Wij moeten ongeveer vijf uur reizen om op onze bestemming te komen. - We have to travel for approximately five hours to reach our destination.

Moeten is a modal verb in Dutch meaning "must" or "have to." In the sentence, it expresses obligation—indicating that traveling for about five hours is a necessary action to reach the destination. Its presence requires the following verb (reizen) to be in the infinitive form.

What does the phrase ongeveer vijf uur mean, and how is it structured?

The phrase ongeveer vijf uur translates to "about five hours." The word ongeveer is an adverb meaning "approximately" or "about," which modifies vijf uur (five hours). This construction gives an estimated duration for the journey.

How is the purpose clause om op onze bestemming te komen structured, and what does it express?

The clause om op onze bestemming te komen is a purpose clause. The word om introduces the purpose, and it is followed by the infinitive structure te komen (to come/arrive). Combined with op onze bestemming (at our destination), it explains why the action in the main clause is taken—essentially meaning "in order to arrive at our destination."

Why is the preposition op used with onze bestemming instead of another preposition like naar?

In Dutch, when referring to arriving at a destination, the preposition op is commonly used—especially in fixed expressions like "op onze bestemming komen." Although naar can denote direction, op here specifically emphasizes the arrival or presence at the destination, making the phrase idiomatic.

How does the sentence’s word order, particularly with the modal verb and the purpose clause, affect its meaning?

The sentence follows standard Dutch word order. In the main clause, "Wij moeten ongeveer vijf uur reizen," the modal verb moeten occupies the second position, and the main verb reizen is kept in its base form, which is typical for modal constructions. The purpose clause "om op onze bestemming te komen" is placed at the end of the sentence to clearly indicate the goal or reason for the travel. This separation enhances clarity by distinguishing the required action from its intended outcome.