Breakdown of Hij wil rechtsafgaan om bij de winkel te komen.
hij
he
om
for
willen
to want
komen
to come
bij
at
de winkel
the shop
rechtsafgaan
to turn right
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Questions & Answers about Hij wil rechtsafgaan om bij de winkel te komen.
What does the compound verb rechtsafgaan mean, and why is it written as one word?
In Dutch, rechtsafgaan combines rechtsaf (meaning "to the right") with gaan ("to go"). Together, they form a compound verb that conveys "to turn right." This type of combination is common in Dutch to express specific directional actions succinctly.
Why is the modal verb wil followed by the bare infinitive rechtsafgaan without the particle te?
Dutch modal verbs like willen ("to want") are used with a bare infinitive. That’s why you say Hij wil rechtsafgaan rather than inserting te before gaan. This is a standard rule in Dutch grammar for modal constructions.
What is the purpose of the om ... te construction in this sentence?
The om ... te construction introduces a purpose clause. In this case, om bij de winkel te komen means "in order to get to the store." It explains the reason behind the action of turning right.
How does the phrase bij de winkel function within the sentence?
The phrase bij de winkel uses the preposition bij, which means "at" or "near." It specifies the destination, indicating that the intended result of turning right is to reach or be near the store.
Is the word order in om bij de winkel te komen fixed, and why is it arranged this way?
Yes, the word order is fixed. In purpose clauses, the structure is always om followed by the object or location (here, bij de winkel), then te, and finally the infinitive (komen). This ordering clearly communicates the intended purpose of the action.