Ik kom Tom tegen in het park.

I encounter Tom in the park.

Breakdown of Ik kom Tom tegen in het park.

• ik: I
• Tom: Tom
• in: in
• het park: the park
• tegenkomen: to encounter

Questions & Answers about Ik kom Tom tegen in het park.

What does the verb tegenkomen mean in this sentence?

It means "to run into" or "to come across" someone—usually by chance. So in this case, the sentence translates to "I run into Tom in the park."

Why is the verb komen separated from its prefix tegen in this sentence?

Because tegenkomen is a separable verb in Dutch. In main clauses, the conjugated part (kom) stays next to the subject, while the separable prefix (tegen) moves to the end of the sentence.

How does the word order work with separable verbs like tegenkomen?

In Dutch, when using separable verbs in the present tense, the subject comes first, followed by the conjugated verb ("kom"), then any direct object ("Tom"), and finally the separable prefix ("tegen") appears at the end. Additional phrases, such as "in het park", come after.

What is the function of the phrase "in het park" in this sentence?

It is a prepositional phrase that indicates the location where the action takes place—telling us that the unexpected meeting with Tom occurred "in the park."

Is there a difference between tegenkomen and other meeting verbs like ontmoeten?

Yes. Tegenkomen generally implies an unplanned or chance encounter (running into someone unexpectedly), whereas ontmoeten usually refers to a deliberate or arranged meeting.