Learn Hardcore Dutch: Normaal werk ik drie dagen per week op kantoor. - Normally I work three days a week at the office.

Dutch is a V2‐language: the finite verb must appear in the second position. When you start a sentence with anything other than the subject (here the adverb Normaal), the subject follows the verb, causing inversion. So you get werk ik instead of ik werk.

Can I start the sentence with Normaal? What type of word is Normaal, and why is it at the beginning?

Normaal is a frequency/manner adverb ("normally"). Placing it in first position emphasizes that you’re describing your usual routine. In Dutch, adverbs of time, manner or frequency can occupy position 1; they then trigger verb–subject inversion.

What’s the difference between Normaal, Meestal and Gewoonlijk?

All three mean “usually” or “normally,” but with slight nuance:

Meestal is the most common everyday word for “most of the time.”
Gewoonlijk is a bit more formal but equivalent to meestal.
Normaal is closer to “in the normal case,” less idiomatic for habitual actions than meestal, but still correct.

You could say:
• Meestal werk ik drie dagen per week op kantoor.
• Gewoonlijk werk ik drie dagen per week op kantoor.

Why do we say drie dagen per week instead of drie keer per week?

Drie dagen per week = “three days each week,” highlighting which days you work.
Drie keer per week = “three times per week,” counting events or visits (you might come in and out multiple times).

Since you work on three distinct days, drie dagen per week is more precise.

Why is there no article before kantoor, and why do we use op kantoor?

With institutions or routine locations (office, school, work) Dutch often drops the article and uses op:
• op kantoor = “at the office”
• op school = “at school”

If you refer to a specific office interior, you’d say in het kantoor, but for the general workplace activity, it’s op kantoor without an article.

Can I say Ik werk normaal drie dagen per week op kantoor instead?

Yes. Placing normaal after the subject avoids inversion:
Ik werk normaal drie dagen per week op kantoor.
The meaning is identical; you’re just using the more common subject–verb order.

What is the structure of drie dagen per week—why is per week placed there?

Dutch mirrors English in rate expressions:
[number] + [time unit] + per + [frequency]
Examples:
• twee keer per dag (“twice per day”)
• vier liter per maand (“four liters per month”)
So drie dagen per week follows that pattern.

Is Normaal gesproken werk ik drie dagen per week op kantoor different from Normaal werk ik…?

Normaal gesproken is a fixed phrase meaning “as a rule” or “normally speaking.” It’s slightly more formal or explanatory. You can replace Normaal with Normaal gesproken at the start, and the meaning remains “I normally work three days a week at the office.”