Word
Wij willen in het weekend uitslapen.
Meaning
We want to sleep in on the weekend.
Part of speech
sentence
Pronunciation
Course
Lesson
Questions & Answers about Wij willen in het weekend uitslapen.
Why is willen used here, and does it mean want or will in English?
In this sentence willen means to want (to), not the English will for the future.
- Wij willen in het weekend uitslapen = We want to sleep in at the weekend.
- Dutch usually uses zullen or just the present tense for future meaning, not willen.
So willen expresses desire/intention (want to), while zullen or context handles the future (for example: We zullen in het weekend uitslapen = We will sleep in at the weekend).
Why is uitslapen at the end of the sentence?
In main clauses, Dutch follows the verb-second rule: the conjugated verb (here willen) must be in second position, and any infinitive or other verb(s) go near the end of the clause.
Structure here:
- Wij (subject)
- willen (conjugated verb in second position)
- in het weekend (time expression)
- uitslapen (infinitive at the end)
That’s why you get Wij willen in het weekend uitslapen, not Wij willen uitslapen in het weekend (though that alternate order is also possible; see below).
Can I also say Wij willen uitslapen in het weekend? Is that wrong?