Wij gaan steeds naar het park.

We always go to the park.

Breakdown of Wij gaan steeds naar het park.

• wij: we
• gaan: to go
• naar: to
• het park: the park
• steeds: always

Questions & Answers about Wij gaan steeds naar het park.

Why is wij sometimes replaced by we in Dutch?

In Dutch you have two forms for “we”: the full form wij and the shortened form we. Wij is more emphatic or formal, while we is used in everyday speech. Both are correct, but native speakers usually say we unless they want to add emphasis.

What exactly does steeds mean, and how is it different from altijd?

Steeds means “again and again” or “constantly” and emphasizes repeated action over time. Altijd means “always” in a more absolute sense. In practice they overlap, but:

• Use steeds to highlight repetition or a changing situation (e.g. Het wordt steeds kouder, “It keeps getting colder”).
• Use altijd for a simple fact of permanence (e.g. Ik ben altijd blij, “I’m always happy”).

Why is steeds placed between the verb and the prepositional phrase?

Dutch follows the V2 (verb-second) word order in main clauses: the finite verb must be in the second position. Here the structure is:

1. Subject: Wij
2. Finite verb: gaan
3. Adverb: steeds
4. Prepositional phrase: naar het park
   Adverbs like steeds typically come right after the verb. If you move steeds to the very front (“Steeds gaan wij naar het park”), gaan still stays in second position.

Why do we use naar before het park instead of in or another preposition?

Naar is the standard preposition for movement towards a destination (“to” in English).

• Wij gaan naar het park = “We go/are going to the park.”
  Using in would mean you are already inside: Wij zijn in het park = “We are in the park.”

Why is it het park and not de park?

Nouns in Dutch have gender: common (de) or neuter (het). Park is neuter, so it takes het. You generally have to learn the article with each noun (though patterns exist, you’ll need practice).

Why isn't there a progressive form like are going here, as in English?

Dutch doesn’t have a separate continuous aspect like English –ing. The simple present (gaan) covers both habitual and ongoing actions. To stress continuity you could say wij zijn naar het park aan het gaan, but that’s more formal and less common in everyday speech.

Why do we say naar het park with an article, but naar huis or naar school without one?

Some place names in Dutch form fixed expressions without an article, especially institutions or buildings when you “go to” them in a general sense:

• naar huis (home)
• naar school (school)
  For other locations like park, bioscoop (cinema), museum, you need the article: naar het park, naar de bioscoop, naar het museum.