Dutch adverbs of time are an essential part of the language and play a crucial role in expressing when an action occurs or how often it takes place. Adverbs of time provide valuable information about the timing and frequency of events, allowing speakers to convey precise meanings in their conversations. Whether you’re a total beginner or have some knowledge of Dutch, understanding and using adverbs of time will greatly enhance your ability to communicate effectively in the language.
What Are Adverbs of Time?
Adverbs of time in Dutch, known as “bijwoorden van tijd,” are words or phrases that modify verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs, indicating when or how often an action happens. They answer questions such as “When?” or “How often?” and provide temporal context to the sentence. In Dutch, adverbs of time can be used in various positions within a sentence, depending on the desired emphasis or clarity.
Common Dutch Adverbs of Time
There are several common adverbs of time in Dutch that are frequently used in everyday conversations. Let’s take a look at some of them along with example sentences:
a) Nu (Now):
Ik eet nu mijn lunch. (I am eating my lunch now.)
Kom je nu naar huis? (Are you coming home now?)
b) Gisteren (Yesterday):
We hebben gisteren een film gekeken. (We watched a movie yesterday.)
Ik heb gisteren mijn familie bezocht. (I visited my family yesterday.)
c) Vandaag (Today):
Hij is vandaag jarig. (It’s his birthday today.)
We gaan vandaag naar de bioscoop. (We are going to the cinema today.)
d) Morgen (Tomorrow):
Ze vertrekt morgen naar Spanje. (She is leaving for Spain tomorrow.)
Laten we morgen naar het strand gaan. (Let’s go to the beach tomorrow.)
e) Vanochtend (This morning):
Ik heb vanochtend ontbeten met mijn vrienden. (I had breakfast with my friends this morning.)
Vanochtend ben ik vroeg opgestaan. (I woke up early this morning.)
f) Vanavond (Tonight):
We gaan vanavond uit eten. (We are going out for dinner tonight.)
Ik moet vanavond werken. (I have to work tonight.)
g) Altijd (Always):
Hij komt altijd te laat. (He always comes late.)
Mijn moeder is altijd vriendelijk. (My mother is always kind.)
h) Soms (Sometimes):
Ik ga soms naar de sportschool. (I go to the gym sometimes.)
Soms kook ik mijn eigen eten. (Sometimes I cook my own food.)
Positioning of Adverbs of Time
In Dutch, adverbs of time can be placed in different positions within a sentence, depending on the desired emphasis or clarity. The most common positions for adverbs of time are:
a) At the beginning of the sentence:
Gisteren heb ik een boek gelezen. (Yesterday, I read a book.)
Vandaag ga ik naar de markt. (Today, I am going to the market.)
b) After the conjugated verb:
Ik heb vanochtend ontbeten. (I had breakfast this morning.)
We gaan vanavond naar de film. (We are going to the movies tonight.)
c) At the end of the sentence:
Ik eet mijn lunch nu. (I am eating my lunch now.)
Hij komt altijd te laat. (He always comes late.)
Expressing Frequency
In addition to indicating specific points in time, adverbs of time in Dutch can also express frequency. Here are some examples:
a) Dagelijks (Daily):
Ik lees dagelijks het nieuws. (I read the news daily.)
Mijn vader sport dagelijks in de ochtend. (My father exercises daily in the morning.)
b) Wekelijks (Weekly):
We hebben wekelijks een teamvergadering. (We have a team meeting weekly.)
Hij bezoekt zijn oma wekelijks. (He visits his grandmother weekly.)
c) Maandelijks (Monthly):
We betalen onze rekeningen maandelijks. (We pay our bills monthly.)
Mijn broer gaat maandelijks naar de kapper. (My brother goes to the hairdresser monthly.)
d) Jaarlijks (Yearly):
We vieren ons jubileum jaarlijks met een groot feest. (We celebrate our anniversary yearly with a big party.)
Ze gaat jaarlijks op vakantie naar Italië. (She goes on vacation to Italy yearly.)
Adverbial Phrases of Time
Apart from single-word adverbs of time, Dutch also makes use of adverbial phrases to express time-related information. These phrases consist of multiple words and function as adverbs within a sentence. Here are a few examples:
a) Over een uur (In an hour):
Ik kom over een uur naar je toe. (I’ll come to you in an hour.)
De film begint over een uur. (The movie starts in an hour.)
b) Elke dag (Every day):
We wandelen elke dag in het park. (We walk in the park every day.)
Ik drink elke dag koffie. (I drink coffee every day.)
c) Twee keer per week (Twice a week):
Ik ga twee keer per week naar de sportschool. (I go to the gym twice a week.)
Ze belt haar moeder twee keer per week. (She calls her mother twice a week.)
d) Om de twee weken (Every two weeks):
We hebben een vergadering om de twee weken. (We have a meeting every two weeks.)
Hij doet de was om de twee weken. (He does the laundry every two weeks.)
Conclusion
Adverbs of time are essential components of the Dutch language, providing information about when an action occurs or how often it happens. By mastering these adverbs and understanding their usage, you can express temporal relationships accurately and add depth to your conversations in Dutch. Whether you’re discussing past events, present actions, or future plans, adverbs of time will help you communicate with clarity and precision. Practice incorporating these adverbs into your daily conversations, and soon you’ll find yourself expressing time-related ideas effortlessly in Dutch.
Originally posted 2023-07-15 00:05:23.