Elon.io is an online learning platform
We have an entire course teaching Dutch grammar and vocabulary.
Questions & Answers about Wij gaan vanavond uit.
What does uitgaan mean, and why is uit at the end of the sentence?
The verb uitgaan means “to go out” (for entertainment or socializing). In Dutch main clauses, separable verbs split: the prefix uit‑ detaches and moves to the very end. Hence wij gaan uit instead of wij uitgaan.
Why is vanavond placed between gaan and uit?
Dutch follows a Time-Manner-Place word order with the finite verb in second position. Here, gaan is the finite verb (position 2), vanavond is the time adverbial (position 3), and the separable prefix uit must remain at the clause’s end.
When should I use wij versus we?
Wij is the full subject pronoun, used for emphasis or in more formal contexts. We is the reduced, everyday form. Both mean “we”:
• Formal/emphatic: Wij gaan vanavond uit
• Casual: We gaan vanavond uit
How do I turn this into a yes/no question?
Invert the finite verb and subject pronoun:
Gaan we vanavond uit?
Or more emphatically/formally:
Gaan wij vanavond uit?
How would I say “We went out tonight” in the past tense?
You have two main options:
• Imperfect (simple past): Wij gingen vanavond uit.
• Perfect (present perfect): We zijn vanavond uitgegaan.
Can I start the sentence with vanavond, or move uit elsewhere?
Yes, you can front the time adverbial:
Vanavond gaan wij uit.
However, in simple tenses the separable prefix uit must still appear at the end of the clause.