Breakdown of Wij fietsen in de middag naar het park.
wij
we
naar
to
in
in
het park
the park
fietsen
to bike
de middag
the afternoon
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Questions & Answers about Wij fietsen in de middag naar het park.
What is the subject and verb in this sentence?
The subject is wij (we) and the main verb is fietsen (bike). In this sentence, wij performs the action of biking.
How does the phrase in de middag function in the sentence?
In de middag is an adverbial phrase that specifies the time when the action occurs—it tells us that the biking happens "in the afternoon."
What role does the prepositional phrase naar het park play?
Naar het park is a prepositional phrase indicating direction or destination. It explains where the subject is biking to—namely, "to the park."
Why is the verb fietsen not altered when used with the subject wij?
In Dutch, when the subject is plural as in wij, the verb remains in its base form. Unlike singular subjects (especially in the third person), plural subjects do not require an additional -t ending.
Why are different definite articles used in in de middag and naar het park?
Dutch uses different articles based on the gender of the noun. Middag is a common gender noun that takes the article de, while park is a neuter noun and therefore takes het.
What is the difference between using wij and we?
Both wij and we translate to "we" in English. Wij is typically used for emphasis or to clearly distinguish the subject, whereas we is more casual and common in everyday conversation.
Is the word order in this sentence flexible, or must it always remain as shown?
While the standard word order in Dutch is subject–verb–adverbial phrase, variations can occur for emphasis or style. However, the arrangement in Wij fietsen in de middag naar het park clearly indicates who is doing the action, when it is done, and where the action leads, making it a solid and natural structure.