Question 1

Why does the sentence begin with Op het vliegveld and why is hoop placed before ik?

Accepted Answer

Dutch main clauses follow the “verb-second” (V2) rule: the finite verb must be in the second position. When you front an adverbial phrase like Op het vliegveld (position 1), the finite verb hoop moves into position 2, and the subject ik drops to position 3.  
Structure:  
1. Op het vliegveld  
2. hoop  
3. ik  
… rest of the sentence.

Question 2

Why is the preposition op used in Op het vliegveld, whereas English says “at the airport”?

Accepted Answer

Dutch often uses op with locations that are seen as open or surface-like areas (stations, airports, markets). English uses “at,” but Dutch idiomatically prefers op in contexts like:  
- op het vliegveld (“at the airport”)  
- op school (“at school”)  
- op het strand (“on the beach”)

Question 3

What does op tijd mean, and why is op used here instead of “in time”?

Accepted Answer

Op tijd is a fixed Dutch expression meaning “on time” or “in good time” (i.e. not late). You always say op tijd, never in tijd. It literally reads “on time,” even though English sometimes says “in time” for the same idea.

Question 4

Why isn’t there an er after hoop in hoop ik op tijd te vertrekken? Wouldn’t er be needed like in other verb+preposition combos?

Accepted Answer

Here op belongs directly to the infinitive phrase op tijd te vertrekken (“to depart on time”). You only need the placeholder pronoun er when you leave out the complement and want to refer to it abstractly, e.g. Ik hoop erop (“I hope for it”). When the full complement follows, no er is inserted.

Question 5

What does reken op mean in ik reken er niet op, and how does it differ from verwachten?

Accepted Answer

- rekenen op = “to count on,” “to rely on,” or “to expect” (more colloquial, implies making plans around something)  
- verwachten = “to expect” (neutral, simply anticipating something)  
In this sentence ik reken er niet op literally means “I’m not counting on it,” i.e. “I don’t really expect it,” even if I hope to.

Question 6

What is the function of the pronoun er in ik reken er niet op?

Accepted Answer

Er is a dummy or placeholder pronoun that stands in for whatever you’re “counting on” — here, the departure op tijd. In Dutch, for many verb+preposition combinations, this er is required and normally sits between the verb and the negation or object:  
- reken er niet op  
- denk er aan (“think about it”)  
- wacht er niet op (“don’t wait for it”)

Question 7

Why doesn’t the verb invert in the second clause after maar as it did after the fronted adverbial?

Accepted Answer

Maar is a coordinating conjunction (just like English “but”), which joins two main clauses. In the second clause introduced by maar, you keep the normal Subject-Verb order: ik reken er niet op. Only subordinating conjunctions or fronted elements trigger inversion in Dutch.

Op het vliegveld hoop ik op tijd te vertrekken, maar ik reken er niet op.

Questions & Answers about Op het vliegveld hoop ik op tijd te vertrekken, maar ik reken er niet op.

More from this lesson

Master Dutch — from Op het vliegveld hoop ik op tijd te vertrekken, maar ik reken er niet op to fluency