Questions & Answers about Tom komt nat thuis.
Why is komt used here (and not kom or komen)?
Because Tom is third person singular (“he”), so you use the present-tense form of komen that matches hij/zij/het: ik kom, jij komt, hij komt.
Is thuis a word on its own or part of the verb thuiskomen?
Thuiskomen (“to come home”) is a separable verb. In a main clause the prefix thuis moves to the end. So in Tom komt thuis you see the split. When you add another adverb (like nat), it goes between the conjugated verb and the particle: Tom komt nat thuis.
What part of speech is nat in this sentence?
It’s an adverb of manner (an adjective used adverbially). It answers how Tom comes home—namely, wet.
Why does nat not get an -e ending (like natte)?
Only attributive adjectives (those placed before nouns) take an -e in Dutch under certain conditions. Predicative adjectives (after a verb) or adverbial uses stay in the base form (nat).
Why is nat placed before thuis rather than after?