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Schrijven · Grammar · A2 · B1 · 5 min read

Dutch word order: the verb-second rule for your writing exam

If you check practice answers for the writing part of the inburgeringsexamen A2 or the Staatsexamen NT2 B1, one mistake comes back again and again: the verb in the wrong place. The good news is that Dutch word order follows a few clear rules. Learn these three and most of those mistakes disappear.

Rule 1: in a main clause, the verb comes second

In a normal Dutch sentence the conjugated verb (the verb that changes with the subject) is always the second element. Not always the second word, but the second part of the sentence.

Ik werk in Utrecht.(I work in Utrecht.)

Mijn buurvrouw heeft twee katten.(My neighbour has two cats.)

In the second example the first element is "Mijn buurvrouw" (two words), and the verb "heeft" still comes second.

Rule 2: start with something else, and the subject moves behind the verb

Dutch sentences often start with a time, a place or another word instead of the subject. The verb then stays in second place, so the subject moves to third place. This is called inversion.

Morgen ik ga naar de markt.(Wrong: the verb is third.)

Morgen ga ik naar de markt.(Tomorrow I am going to the market.)

In het weekend werk ik niet.(At the weekend I don't work.)

Daarom kom ik later.(That is why I am coming later.)

Words like daarom, toen, dan, eerst, daarna and helaas often start a sentence in exam emails. After each of them: verb, then subject.

Rule 3: after omdat, dat, als and similar words, the verb goes to the end

A subordinate clause starts with a word like omdat (because), dat (that), als (if/when), wanneer, terwijl, of (whether) or zodat (so that). In that clause all the verbs go to the end.

Ik kom niet, omdat ik ziek ben.(I am not coming, because I am ill.)

Ik hoop dat u snel kunt antwoorden.(I hope that you can answer soon.)

Als het regent, neem ik de bus.(If it rains, I take the bus.)

Look at the last example. The sentence starts with the whole clause "Als het regent". That clause counts as the first element, so the main verb "neem" comes right after the comma, followed by the subject.

Watch out: want and omdat both mean "because"

Want, en, maar, of (or) and dus join two normal main clauses, so the word order does not change after them. Omdat starts a subordinate clause, so the verb goes to the end. Exam tasks often ask you to use one of them on purpose.

Ik blijf thuis, want ik ben moe.(I am staying at home, because I am tired.)

Ik blijf thuis, omdat ik moe ben.(Same meaning, verb at the end.)

A quick check before you hand in

  • Find the verb in every sentence. Is it in second place?
  • Does the sentence start with a time, a place or a word like daarom? Then the subject comes after the verb.
  • Do you see omdat, dat, als, zodat or wanneer? Then all the verbs of that part go to the end.
  • After want, maar, en or dus: normal order, nothing changes.

Practise this with real exam-style tasks: write a short email, and our grader marks every word-order mistake and explains it in plain English.

Dutch word order: the verb-second rule