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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?