Learn Hardcore Dutch: Zij kwam expres iets later en bleef kalm in de rij. - She purposely came a bit later and stayed calm in the line.

Both mean she. Zij is the stressed form (often used for emphasis or contrast), while ze is the unstressed, most common everyday form. Here, Ze kwam expres iets later… would be the most neutral.

Could Zij also mean “they” here?

Not in this sentence, because the verb is singular: kwam/bleef. If it were “they,” you would see plural verbs: Zij kwamen expres iets later en bleven kalm in de rij.

What tense are kwam and bleef?

They are simple past (preterite). Infinitives: komen → past kwam (pl. kwamen), participle gekomen; blijven → past bleef (pl. bleven), participle gebleven.

How would this be in the perfect tense?

Dutch uses zijn with both verbs: Ze is expres iets later gekomen en is kalm in de rij gebleven. Simple past vs. perfect is largely a stylistic choice in Dutch.

What does expres mean, and where does it go in the sentence?

Expres means “on purpose, deliberately.” It’s a sentence adverb and is very natural right after the finite verb: Ze kwam expres iets later. Fronting is possible but marked: Expres kwam ze iets later. Putting it at the end (…iets later expres) sounds off.

Is expres the same as opzettelijk or met opzet?

They all mean “on purpose.” Expres is very common and neutral-colloquial; opzettelijk and met opzet can sound a bit more formal or emphatic. Bewust (“deliberately, consciously”) is another good near-synonym.

How do you pronounce and spell expres?

Pronunciation: [ɛks-PRES] (stress on the second syllable). Spelling is expres (one s at the end). Express exists in Dutch but as an adjective/noun for fast services (e.g., expressbezorging), not meaning “on purpose.”

What exactly does iets later mean?

It means “a bit/somewhat later.” Here iets functions adverbially (“a little”), not as “something.” Alternatives: wat later, een beetje later, ietsje later (increasingly informal/casual).

What’s the difference between later and te laat?

Later is relative (“later than before/expected”), while te laat means “too late.” So Ze kwam later ≠ Ze kwam te laat.

Is the word order of expres, iets later, and in de rij okay?

Yes. In the first clause, expres (manner/intent) naturally sits near the verb before the time phrase: kwam expres iets later. In the second clause, place phrase in de rij comes at the end: bleef kalm in de rij. The “Time–Manner–Place” guideline is flexible, and sentence adverbs like expres often appear early.

Why no comma before en?

Dutch typically doesn’t use a comma before en when coordinating two main-clause parts, unless the sentence is long or a comma improves clarity. Here it’s clean without a comma.

Why isn’t the subject repeated before bleef?

In coordinated main clauses, Dutch often omits the repeated subject when it’s the same: Zij kwam … en bleef … The finite verb bleef still appears in main-clause position after the conjunction.

Do I need to add staan: bleef kalm in de rij (staan)?

It’s optional. Bleef kalm in de rij already implies remaining in the queue. Bleef rustig/kalm in de rij staan makes the “standing” explicit and is also very idiomatic.

Is kalm correct here? What about rustig?

Yes. Bleef kalm or bleef rustig are both common (“stayed calm”). Kalm is a predicate adjective here, so no -e ending. Attributive use takes -e: de kalme vrouw.

Why in de rij and not something like op de rij or aan de rij?

Dutch uses in de rij for “in line/in a queue.” Op de rij and aan de rij are not used in this sense.

Does rij mean “row” or “line/queue”?

Both, depending on context. Here it means “line/queue” (BrE: queue; AmE: line). It’s a de-word: de rij, plural rijen, diminutive rijtje.

Any quick pronunciation tips?

Zij and rij: the ij is pronounced like Dutch ei: roughly “ay” in English, but shorter and tenser: [ɛi].
kwam: [kwɑm] (short a as in “father,” lips rounded with w).
expres: [ɛksˈprɛs].
bleef: [bleːf] (long ee).
kalm: [kɑlm] (the l is pronounced).

How would I negate parts of this sentence?

To deny the intentionality: Ze kwam niet expres iets later.
To say she deliberately did not come later, it’s clearer to avoid “niet later” and say: Ze kwam expres op tijd.
To negate the calmness: … en bleef niet kalm in de rij.

Is there any nuance if I front something else?

Yes, fronted elements get emphasis: Expres kwam ze iets later… (focus on “on purpose”), Iets later kwam ze… (focus on the timing). This sounds more formal or contrastive than the neutral order.