Wij bepalen straks samen wat we eerst en daarna doen.

We will decide together soon what we do first and after that.

Breakdown of Wij bepalen straks samen wat we eerst en daarna doen.

• wij: we
• en: and
• samen: together
• straks: soon
• eerst: first
• doen: to do
• wat: what
• daarna: after that
• bepalen: to decide

Questions & Answers about Wij bepalen straks samen wat we eerst en daarna doen.

Why is it Wij at the start but we later? When do I use wij vs we?

• wij is the stressed form and adds emphasis to the subject: “we (as opposed to someone else).”
• we is the normal, unstressed form.
• It’s common to start with Wij for emphasis and use we later in the sentence. Without emphasis, you can use We in both places: We bepalen straks samen wat we eerst en daarna doen.

What does straks mean exactly, and how is it different from other “later/soon” words?

• straks = later today/soon (typically the same day).
• Close synonyms:
  • zo meteen / zometeen / dadelijk = in a moment, very soon.
  • later = later (unspecified time, not necessarily today).
  • binnenkort = soon (not tied to “today”).
• Position: Time adverbs like straks often come early. Variants:
  • Straks bepalen we samen … (emphasis on time)
  • Wij bepalen straks samen … (neutral)
  • Wij bepalen samen straks … (possible, but time-before-manner is more typical)

Why is bepalen in second position, but doen at the end?

• Main clause (V2 rule): the finite verb goes in second position: Wij [1] bepalen [2] straks samen …
• Subordinate clause introduced by wat: the finite verb goes to the end: … wat we eerst en daarna doen.
• You can see it’s finite by changing the subject: wat hij … doet (not doen).

Why is it wat and not dat after bepalen?

• wat introduces a “free relative clause” meaning “what(ever) we do.”
• dat would introduce a “that”-clause and needs a full statement after it. You’d use dat only if you specify the content, e.g. We bepalen dat we om tien uur beginnen.
• Saying bepalen dat we doen is wrong; doen needs an object (what we do), which wat supplies.

Do I need zullen or gaan to talk about the future?

• No. Dutch often uses the present tense with a future time adverb: We bepalen straks …
• You can add:
  • zullen for a plan/promise/assurance: We zullen straks samen bepalen …
  • gaan for a near-future intention: We gaan straks samen bepalen …
• Similarly inside the clause: wat we eerst en daarna zullen/gaan doen is fine.

What does samen modify here? Are we deciding together or doing the tasks together?

• As written, samen modifies bepalen: “We will decide together.”
• If you mean doing the tasks together, put samen inside the wat-clause:
  • Deciding together: Wij bepalen straks samen wat we eerst en daarna doen.
  • Doing together: Wij bepalen straks wat we eerst en daarna samen doen.
  • Both: Wij bepalen straks samen wat we eerst en daarna samen doen.

Is eerst the same as eerste or als eerste?

• eerst = adverb “first(ly)” modifying a verb: eerst doen.
• eerste = adjective “first” before a noun: de eerste stap.
• als eerste = “as the first (one)” and can be used predicatively: Wie is als eerste?; in your sentence, you can also say wat we als eerste doen (slightly more emphatic).

Is eerst en daarna okay, or should I repeat doen?

• It’s fine: Dutch often avoids repetition. … wat we eerst en daarna doen = “what we do first and then.”
• More explicit options:
  • … wat we eerst doen en wat we daarna doen.
  • … in welke volgorde we dingen doen.

Can I use dan instead of daarna?

• Yes: eerst … dan … is common in speech.
• daarna is a bit clearer and slightly more formal/explicit (“after that”).
• Note: dan also means “than,” but context usually prevents confusion.

Could I use welke instead of wat?

• Only if you name a specific set (and use a noun): welke taken/activiteiten we eerst en daarna doen.
• Without a noun, use wat: wat we … doen.

Do I need a comma before wat?

• Typically no comma is used before a content clause: Wij bepalen straks samen wat we … doen.
• A comma can be added in very long sentences for readability, but it’s not required here.

Is bepalen the right verb? How does it differ from beslissen, vaststellen, uitmaken?

• bepalen: to determine/set/define (often about rules, schedules, order). Neutral-to-formal.
• beslissen: to decide/choose among options; very common in everyday speech.
• vaststellen: to establish/ascertain/officially fix (formal or factual).
• uitmaken: to determine/decide (colloquial in some uses).
• All can work with nuance shifts:
  • We beslissen straks samen … (choosing)
  • We bepalen/vaststellen straks samen … (setting/defining the order)

Any quick pronunciation tips for this sentence?

• wij: Dutch w = [ʋ], between English v and w; ij ≈ the vowel in “eye” but shorter: [ʋɛi].
• bepalen: unstressed be- like “buh,” long aa in -paal-: [bəˈpaːlə(n)].
• straks: short a as in “father” but shorter; final ks: [strɑks].
• samen: long aa; often schwa at the end: [ˈsaːmə(n)].
• eerst: long ee; final st cluster: [eːrst].
• daarna: long aa in both syllables: [daːrˈnaː].
• doen: oe = [u] (as in French “ou”): [dun].