Ik ga rechtsaf bij de winkel.

I go right at the shop.

Breakdown of Ik ga rechtsaf bij de winkel.

• ik: I
• gaan: to go
• bij: at
• de winkel: the shop
• rechtsaf: right

Questions & Answers about Ik ga rechtsaf bij de winkel.

What is the structure of the sentence "Ik ga rechtsaf bij de winkel" and how does it compare to an English sentence?

The sentence follows a straightforward pattern: subject – verb – directional adverb – prepositional phrase. Here, Ik is the subject (“I”), ga is the verb (“am going” or “go”), rechtsaf is a compound directional adverb meaning “to the right,” and bij de winkel is a prepositional phrase indicating location (“at the store”). This is similar in function to the English sentence “I’m going to turn right at the store.”

Why is rechtsaf written as one word instead of two separate words?

In Dutch, many directional adverbs become compound words. Rechtsaf combines rechts (right) with af (a particle that contributes to the directional meaning) to clearly indicate the action of turning right. You’ll see a similar pattern with linksaf for “to the left.”

What is the function of the preposition bij in this sentence?

Bij means “at” or “by.” In this context, it tells you where the turning occurs – specifically, at or near the shop (de winkel). It helps specify the location in the sentence, much like using “at” in the English phrase “at the store.”

Can "Ik ga rechtsaf bij de winkel" be used interchangeably with "I turn right at the store" in English?

Yes, although the literal translation of Ik ga rechtsaf bij de winkel is “I go right at the store,” in practice it conveys the idea of turning right. Dutch often uses the verb gaan (“to go”) in combination with a directional adverb to indicate a change in direction, which is equivalent to saying “turn right” in English.

If I wanted to say that I’m turning left instead of right, how would I change the sentence?

You simply replace rechtsaf with linksaf. The modified sentence would be Ik ga linksaf bij de winkel, which means “I’m going to turn left at the store.” This substitution follows the same structure, making it easy to adjust the direction.