Breakdown of In het weekend wandelen we naar het winkelcentrum om schoenen te kopen.
wij
we
naar
to
in
in
het weekend
the weekend
kopen
to buy
om
for
wandelen
to walk
het winkelcentrum
the shopping mall
de schoen
the shoe
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Questions & Answers about In het weekend wandelen we naar het winkelcentrum om schoenen te kopen.
Why does the sentence start with In het weekend wandelen we instead of We wandelen in het weekend?
Dutch follows the verb-second (V2) rule. When you begin a sentence with an adverbial phrase like In het weekend, the finite verb must come immediately after it, pushing the subject we into third position.
You could still say We wandelen in het weekend, but only if you start with the subject.
Why is it in het weekend and not op het weekend?
Prepositions of time in Dutch differ by the scale of the period:
- Use op for specific days (op maandag, op 5 mei).
- Use in for longer spans like months, years, seasons—and weekends.
So you say in het weekend (in the weekend), not op het weekend.
What is the function of om schoenen te kopen, and why is om necessary?
Om … te + infinitive introduces a purpose clause (“in order to…”).
Here om schoenen te kopen literally means “in order to buy shoes.” Om is mandatory before te when expressing intent or purpose.
Why is schoenen plural? Could you say een schoen?
- Schoenen (shoes) is plural because you normally buy a pair, not a single shoe.
- Een schoen kopen would mean “to buy one shoe,” which is unusual unless you literally need only one.
If you want to emphasize a single pair, you could say een paar schoenen kopen.
Why use naar het winkelcentrum? What does naar indicate here?
Naar expresses motion toward a destination (“to” or “towards”).
- Naar het winkelcentrum = moving to the shopping center.
If you said in het winkelcentrum, it would mean “inside the mall,” not the act of walking there.
Is there a difference between wandelen and lopen in this context?
Yes.
- Wandelen implies a leisurely or recreational walk (like a stroll).
- Lopen is the general verb “to walk” or “to go on foot.”
In In het weekend wandelen we…, you highlight that the walking is for pleasure. You could use lopen, but it sounds more neutral and less about leisure.