De lamp gaat automatisch aan.

the lamp

Breakdown of De lamp gaat automatisch aan.

• automatisch: automatically
• aan gaan: to turn on

Questions & Answers about De lamp gaat automatisch aan.

What does gaat mean here?

Although gaat literally means goes, in this context it signals a change of state rather than movement. So De lamp gaat aan means The lamp turns on.

Why is aan at the end of the sentence?

Aan is the separable particle (prefix) of the expression gaan aan (literally go on, idiomatically turn on). In Dutch main clauses separable particles detach from the verb and move to the end of the sentence.

What part of speech is automatisch, and what does it modify?

Here automatisch functions as an adverb modifying the verb phrase gaat aan, describing how the lamp turns on (i.e. automatically). Dutch often uses the same form for adjectives and adverbs.

What is the difference between de lamp gaat aan and de lamp staat aan?

De lamp gaat aan (“the lamp turns on”) describes the action or process of switching on.
De lamp staat aan (“the lamp is on”) describes the resulting state of being lit.

Could I say De lamp wordt automatisch aangezet instead?