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Questions & Answers about Hij loopt tot aan de brug.
Why is there an aan after tot? Can't I just say Hij loopt tot de brug?
While Hij loopt tot de brug is grammatically correct, Dutch speakers often add aan when talking about a physical endpoint.
- tot alone is more common with time expressions (e.g., tot vrijdag).
- tot aan de brug emphasizes the boundary or limit you reach at the bridge (“up to the bridge”).
What’s the difference between lopen naar de brug and lopen tot aan de brug?
- lopen naar de brug: you walk to the bridge as your destination (you’ll likely end up on or over it).
- lopen tot aan de brug: you walk up to the bridge’s starting point and stop there, not necessarily going onto it.
Why is it aan de brug and not op de brug?
- aan in tot aan de brug marks the limit or border you reach.
- op means “on top of,” so op de brug would mean you’re actually on the bridge, not just up to it.
Can I use totdat and say Hij loopt totdat hij bij de brug is? How does that differ?
- Tot
- noun phrase (tot aan de brug) gives a concise spatial endpoint.
- Totdat
- clause (totdat hij bij de brug is) uses a subordinate clause to express “until he is at the bridge.”
Both forms are correct: tot + noun is shorter when you only care about the location; totdat adds a full clause.
- clause (totdat hij bij de brug is) uses a subordinate clause to express “until he is at the bridge.”
How do I conjugate lopen in the present tense? Why is it loopt here?
Present tense of lopen (“to walk”):
• ik loop
• jij loopt
• hij/zij/het loopt
• wij lopen
• jullie lopen
• zij lopen
In Hij loopt, you use the 3rd-person singular form, which adds -t to loop.
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