This lesson teaches key Dutch adverbs like binnenkort (soon), pas (just), misschien (maybe), graag (gladly), and anders (otherwise), essential for expressing time, preference, and possibility clearly in daily conversations.
Bijwoord (Adverb)Betekenis (Meaning)Voorbeeldzin (Example sentence)
binnenkortIn de nabije toekomst (In the near future)Ik begin binnenkort mijn eigen bedrijf. (I will start my own company soon.)
pasNet of onlangs (Just)Ik heb pas de boekhouding gedaan. (I have just done the bookkeeping.)
misschienOnzekerheid, mogelijkheid (Uncertainty, possibility)Misschien investeer ik volgende maand in iets groots. (Maybe I will invest in something big next month.)
graagMet plezier, wens (With pleasure, wish)Ik werk graag samen met mijn collega's. (I gladly work together with my colleagues.)
andersAlternatief, waarschuwing (Alternative, warning)Je moet het anders aanpakken om winst te maken. (You have to approach it differently to make a profit.)

Exercise 1: Bijwoorden: binnenkort, pas, misschien, graag, anders

Instruction: Fill in the correct word.

Show translation Show answers

binnenkort, graag, Misschien, Binnenkort, Pas

1.
... moet ik meer in de marketing investeren.
(Maybe I should invest more in marketing.)
2.
... starten we een nieuw bedrijf in de stad.
(We will be starting a new company in the city soon.)
3.
Mijn collega helpt ... met de boekhouding.
(My colleague is happy to help with the bookkeeping.)
4.
... na het vergaderen maak ik de winst bekend.
(Only after the meeting do I announce the profit.)
5.
Ik werk ... met mijn collega samen.
(I like working with my colleague.)
6.
... heeft de concurrent een beter idee.
(Maybe the competitor has a better idea.)
7.
Ik begin ... met mijn nieuwe administratie.
(I will soon start my new administration.)

Exercise 2: Multiple Choice

Instruction: Choose the correct sentence with the right adverb from the options. Pay close attention to the correct usage of the adverbs: binnenkort, pas, misschien, graag, anders.

1.
"Pas" means recently or just now, but the combination with "straks" is ungrammatical and illogical in this sentence.
The combination and order of "misschien" and "binnenkort" is confusing and unnatural here.
2.
"Graag" expresses preference, but "pas" fits better here because it concerns a recent action.
"Binnenkort" refers to the future, but the sentence is in the past tense; therefore it is incorrect.
3.
The word "al" at the end is redundant here and does not sound natural.
The word order is incorrect; in a main clause the verb always stands in second position.
4.
The word order is wrong; "graag" should come after the verb.
The combination "anders graag" is grammatically incorrect and illogical.

Adverbs: binnenkort, pas, misschien, graag, anders

This lesson focuses on important Dutch adverbs that express time, preference, or possibility. Understanding these words will help you describe when something happens, your likes, or alternatives in everyday situations.

What You Will Learn

  • binnenkort – means "in the near future" and helps you talk about upcoming events.
  • pas – indicates something happened just recently or a short time ago.
  • misschien – expresses uncertainty or possibility, similar to "maybe" in English.
  • graag – shows willingness or pleasure, like saying "gladly" or "with pleasure."
  • anders – used to suggest an alternative or issue a warning, meaning "otherwise" or "differently."

Examples Explained

For instance, Ik begin binnenkort mijn eigen bedrijf. means you will start your own business soon. Using pas as in Ik heb pas de boekhouding gedaan. shows you did the bookkeeping just recently. Misschien appears in sentences like Misschien investeer ik volgende maand in iets groots. to indicate uncertainty about a future action.

Expressing preferences with graag is natural in Dutch: Ik werk graag samen met mijn collega's. And for giving alternatives or warnings, anders fits well: Je moet het anders aanpakken om winst te maken.

Important Differences and Useful Tips

Unlike English, where word order is more flexible, Dutch requires specific positions, especially for adverbs like misschien, which usually comes at the start or just before the verb. For example, correct Dutch word order in statements is subject–verb–adverb. Saying Misschien ik investeer... is incorrect because the verb must be second.

Useful words and comparisons:

  • binnenkort = "soon" (near future)
  • pas = "just recently" (recent past)
  • misschien = "maybe" (possibility)
  • graag = "gladly" or "like to" (preference)
  • anders = "otherwise" or "differently" (alternative)

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This content has been designed and reviewed by the coLanguage pedagogical team: About coLanguage

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Kato De Paepe

Business and languages

KdG University of Applied Sciences and Arts Antwerp

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Last Updated:

Sunday, 31/08/2025 08:08