Wijst

Wijst is the third-person singular present tense of the Dutch verb wijzen, meaning to point, indicate, or show. It is used for literal pointing as well as for indicating direction, a feature, or a fact. In addition to pointing with a gesture, wijzen can be used metaphorically, such as when something “points to” a conclusion or a trend.

Etymology and related forms: The verb wijzen is an older Dutch root related to similar Germanic verbs meaning to show or indicate. The present tense form wijst appears with singular subjects (hij/zij/het), while other subject forms differ.

Usage and examples: Common constructions include: “Hij wijst de weg” (He points the way) and “Zij wijst op een fout” (She points out a mistake). The expression “wijzen op” is frequently used to draw attention to something, as in “De cijfers wijzen op een stijgende trend” (The figures point to an upward trend). When describing directions, a sentence such as “De gids wijst naar de kaart” (The guide points to the map) is typical.

Grammar notes: Wijst is the standard present-tense form used with third-person singular subjects. The full present-tense paradigm is: ik wijs, jij wijst, u wijst, hij/zij/het wijst, wij wijzen, jullie wijzen, zij wijzen. The past participle is gewezen, used with hebben to form the present perfect: hij heeft gewezen. The verb can be followed by prepositional complements such as naar (points to) or op (points at/out).