Wij kunnen alvast beginnen met lezen.

We can already start reading.

Breakdown of Wij kunnen alvast beginnen met lezen.

• wij: we
• lezen: to read
• met: with
• kunnen: can
• beginnen: to start
• alvast: already

Questions & Answers about Wij kunnen alvast beginnen met lezen.

What does alvast mean in this sentence, and how should I translate it?

Alvast here conveys the idea of “in advance” or “right away”, preparing for something. A natural English translation is:

• “We can start reading now.”
  You could also say “We can already start reading.”

Why is kunnen used here, and what’s its role?

Kunnen is a modal verb meaning “can” or “be able to.” It modifies the main verb beginnen to express ability or possibility. In English it corresponds to “can” in “We can start.”

Why is the word order Wij kunnen alvast beginnen rather than Wij alvast kunnen beginnen?

Dutch follows the Verb Second (V2) rule in main clauses: the finite verb (kunnen) must occupy the second position. Here’s the structure:

1. Wij (subject, first position)
2. kunnen (finite verb, second position)
3. alvast beginnen met lezen (rest of the clause)

Why does beginnen require met + infinitive (lezen)? Is there another option?

The verb beginnen can be followed by:

• met
  • noun or met
    • -en infinitive
• or in some contexts by te
  • infinitive (more literary).
    In everyday speech, beginnen met + infinitive is most common:
• beginnen met lezen = to start reading
  You could say “beginnen te lezen”, but it sounds a bit more formal or old‐fashioned.

Why is lezen in the infinitive form here?

After a modal verb (kunnen) or after beginnen met, Dutch uses the infinitive for the next action:

• Wij kunnen beginnen (infinitive)
• …beginnen met lezen (infinitive)

What’s the difference between wij kunnen and we kunnen?

Both mean “we can,” but:

• wij is the full subject pronoun (slightly more emphatic or formal).
• we is the reduced form (colloquial).
  In everyday speech you’ll often hear we kunnen alvast beginnen met lezen.

Could we leave out alvast? How would the meaning change?

Yes, you can say “Wij kunnen beginnen met lezen.”

• Without alvast, it simply states the ability to start.
• With alvast, you add the nuance “let’s do it right away/in advance.”

How would I turn this into a question?

Swap the subject and finite verb for a yes/no question:
“Kunnen wij (of = we) alvast beginnen met lezen?”
= “Can we start reading now?”