Breakdown of Ik wikkel het brood in papier voor de picknick.
ik
I
het brood
the bread
in
in
voor
for
het papier
the paper
de picknick
the picnic
wikkelen
to wrap
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Questions & Answers about Ik wikkel het brood in papier voor de picknick.
Why is het brood placed before in papier, and why does voor de picknick come at the end of the sentence?
Dutch typically follows Subject–Verb–Object order, so the direct object (het brood) comes immediately after the verb (wikkel). Prepositional phrases (like in papier and voor de picknick) follow the object. Among those, you can freely order purpose/time/place phrases, but putting voor de picknick at the very end is the most natural: it marks the purpose or occasion last.
Why do we say het brood but no article before papier in in papier?
Brood is a neuter noun, so its definite article is het: het brood. In in papier, papier is treated as a mass or material noun in an indefinite, general sense (“in paper”), so Dutch often omits the article here. It’s like English “wrap bread in paper” rather than “in the paper.”
Could I say in het papier instead of in papier?
Yes, but that makes papier specific. Ik wikkel het brood in het papier suggests you’re wrapping it in that particular sheet of paper you’re holding. If you’re talking about wrapping in any generic paper (as a material or packaging), you leave out the article.
Can I use met instead of in (e.g. wikkel het brood met papier)?
Using met focuses on the tool or material (“with paper”), whereas in emphasizes enclosing something inside. “Ik wikkel het brood met papier” is understandable but less idiomatic; Dutch speakers generally say wikkelen in when talking about wrapping something inside a covering.
What about the verb omwikkelen? Could I use that here?
Omwikkelen is a separable prefix verb meaning “to wind or wrap around,” often implying multiple turns or a tighter wrap. You could say Ik omwikkel het brood met papier, but it sounds more formal or technical. For everyday speech, wikkel … in is more common.
Why is it voor de picknick and not voor een picknick?
Using de makes it a specific picnic you have in mind (perhaps one you’re planning). Voor een picknick would imply “for any picnic in general.” If you’ve already introduced “the” picnic or it’s understood from context, use voor de picknick.
How do you conjugate wikkelen in other tenses?
Present:
- ik wikkel
- jij wikkelt
- hij/zij wikkelt
- wij/jullie/zij wikkelen
Past:
- ik wikkelde
- wij wikkelden
Past participle:
- gewikkeld
So “I wrapped the bread” would be Ik wikkelde het brood in papier or “I have wrapped” is Ik heb het brood in papier gewikkeld.