At A2 you learn the basics of Dutch word order. In a main clause the verb is in position 2. If a time or place comes first, the verb comes before the subject: that is inversion. In a subordinate clause the verb goes to the end. B2 adds no new rules here. It asks you to use these rules in long sentences.
A sentence with a main clause and a subordinate clause is a complex sentence. The longer it gets, the easier it is to forget a rule. This page covers the three places where it most often goes wrong.
The persoonsvorm: the verb that counts
The rules on this page are about the persoonsvorm. That is the verb that goes with the subject. It also shows the tense: is, was, heeft, kan. In a main clause it is in position 2. In a subordinate clause it goes last.
| Kind of clause | Where is the persoonsvorm? | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Main clause | position 2 | Hij verhuist volgende week. (He is moving next week.) |
| Subordinate clause | last | ... dat hij volgende week verhuist. (... that he is moving next week.) |
A fronted clause counts as position 1
You can start a sentence with the subordinate clause. That whole clause then counts as one position: position 1. The verb of the main clause must be in position 2. So it comes straight after the comma. The subject follows.
Right: verb first
- Omdat het regende, bleef ik thuis. (Because it rained, I stayed home.)
- Toen ik thuiskwam, was het al donker. (When I got home, it was already dark.)
- Als de winkel dicht is, kun je het online bestellen. (If the shop is closed, you can order it online.)
Wrong: subject first
- Omdat het regende, ik bleef thuis.
- Toen ik thuiskwam, het was al donker.
- Als de winkel dicht is, je kunt het online bestellen.
This works after every word that starts a subordinate clause. Think of omdat and doordat (because), als (if) and toen (when). Voordat (before), hoewel (although) and zodra (as soon as) work the same way.
- Doordat de lift kapot was, moesten we de trap nemen.Because the lift was broken, we had to take the stairs.
- Voordat de les begon, pakte zij haar boeken.Before the lesson started, she got out her books.
- Hoewel het laat was, ging hij door met werken.Although it was late, he kept working.
- Zodra ik het weet, bel ik je.As soon as I know, I will call you.
In a subordinate clause the verb stays last
After dat, omdat, als, of and other conjunctions, the persoonsvorm moves to the end. That stays true however long the clause gets. It even holds when there is a second clause inside it.
| Clause | Example | English |
|---|---|---|
| short | ... dat hij verhuist. | ... that he is moving. |
| longer | ... dat hij volgende week met zijn gezin naar Utrecht verhuist. | ... that he is moving to Utrecht with his family next week. |
| with a second clause inside | ... dat de man die naast ons woont volgende week verhuist. | ... that the man who lives next door is moving next week. |
| with two verbs | ... dat we volgende week eerder kunnen beginnen. | ... that we can start earlier next week. |
| a question with of | Hij vroeg of ik de deur kon openen. | He asked whether I could open the door. |
The verb matches the real subject
In a long subordinate clause the verb can be far from its subject. Then singular and plural are easy to mix up. Always look at the real subject. It is not always the word just before the verb.
| Clause | Subject | Verb |
|---|---|---|
| ... dat de eigenaar van die twee winkels veel verdient. | de eigenaar (one owner) | verdient |
| ... dat de toeristen in dat oude hotel vaak klagen. | de toeristen (several) | klagen |
| ... dat de man die naast ons woont verhuist. | de man (one man) | verhuist |
| ... dat de mensen die in dat huis wonen verhuizen. | de mensen (several) | verhuizen |