Tom betaalt ter plekke bij de kassa.

Tom

Breakdown of Tom betaalt ter plekke bij de kassa.

• betalen: to pay
• bij: at
• de kassa: the checkout

Questions & Answers about Tom betaalt ter plekke bij de kassa.

What does ter plekke mean in this sentence?

Ter plekke is a fixed expression meaning “on the spot” or “right there.” It emphasizes that the action (paying) happens immediately at that location (the checkout).

Why is it ter plekke and not op de plek or in de plaats?

• Ter plekke is an idiomatic contraction of te der plekke (old Dutch).
• Op de plek literally means “on the spot,” but isn’t used idiomatically in this context.
• Ter plaatse is a more formal synonym meaning exactly the same as ter plekke, but you’ll hear ter plekke more in everyday speech.

Why does the sentence use bij de kassa instead of aan de kassa?

Both prepositions can appear with kassa, but there’s a slight nuance:

• Bij de kassa focuses on the location “by/next to the checkout.”
• Aan de kassa can stress “at the cashier’s counter,” sometimes focusing on the act of handing over money or card.
  In most contexts they’re interchangeable, but bij de kassa is more general.

Can I swap the order and say Tom betaalt bij de kassa ter plekke?