Breakdown of Wij lezen gemiddeld een boek per week.
het boek
the book
wij
we
lezen
to read
een
a, an
per
per
de week
the week
gemiddeld
on average
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Questions & Answers about Wij lezen gemiddeld een boek per week.
What is the function of gemiddeld in this sentence?
Gemiddeld is an adverb meaning “on average.” It qualifies the verb lezen, so the sentence literally says “We read, on average, one book per week.”
Why is the verb lezen in the present tense when it describes a habitual action?
In Dutch, the simple present (de tegenwoordige tijd) covers both current and habitual actions. Wij lezen can mean “we are reading” right now or “we read” as a habit. For regular activities, you simply use the present.
Why is een boek singular in een boek per week instead of plural?
When you express frequency with per + tijdseenheid, Dutch uses the singular: “one book per week.” If you said boeken per week, it would imply “multiple books in a week,” focusing on total quantity rather than an average rate.
Can I use we instead of wij, and what’s the difference?
Yes. Wij is the full, emphatic pronoun; we is the unstressed, colloquial form. Both mean “we.”
Examples:
- Wij lezen gemiddeld een boek per week. (slightly more formal/emphatic)
- We lezen gemiddeld een boek per week. (more casual)
What is the word order, and why does gemiddeld come before een boek?
A declarative Dutch sentence typically follows Subject–Verb–Adverbial–Object order. Here:
- Subject: Wij
- Verb: lezen
- Adverbial: gemiddeld
- Object: een boek
- Frequency phrase: per week
Adverbs like gemiddeld usually precede the direct object.
Can I front gemiddeld to the beginning of the sentence?
Yes. Dutch allows you to start with an adverbial, but the finite verb must stay in second position (inversion):
Gemiddeld lezen wij een boek per week.
This shifts emphasis onto “on average.”
Why don’t we use a progressive form (like “we’re reading one book per week”) in Dutch?
Dutch does have a progressive construction with aan het (e.g., Wij zijn een boek per week aan het lezen), but it’s less common. For repeated or ongoing habits, the simple present is preferred: Wij lezen gemiddeld een boek per week.
Could I replace per week with wekelijks?
Yes. Wekelijks is an adverb meaning “weekly.” You could say:
Wij lezen wekelijks gemiddeld een boek.
The meaning stays the same, though word order may adjust slightly to keep the verb in second position.