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Schrijven · Grammar · A2 · B1 · 6 min read

Want, omdat, daarom or zodat? Linking words for your writing exam

Many tasks in the inburgeringsexamen and the Staatsexamen NT2 give you a cue word: finish the sentence with want, with omdat, or start the next one with Daarom. These words look alike, but each one puts the verb in a different place. Get the word order right and you show the examiner you control Dutch sentences.

Want: because, normal word order

Want joins two main clauses. Nothing changes after it: subject, then verb, just like a normal sentence.

Ik kom morgen niet, want ik moet werken.(I am not coming tomorrow, because I have to work.)

Ik bel u, want ik heb een vraag.(I am calling you, because I have a question.)

In your exam writing, don't start a sentence with want. Put it in the middle, after a comma.

Omdat: because, verb at the end

Omdat means the same as want, but it starts a subordinate clause. All the verbs of that part go to the end.

Ik kom morgen niet, omdat ik ben ziek.(Wrong: the verb must go to the end.)

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

Ik kom morgen niet, omdat ik moet werken.(With two verbs, both go to the end.)

You can also start a sentence with omdat. Then the main verb comes straight after the comma, followed by the subject.

Omdat ik ziek ben, kom ik morgen niet.(Because I am ill, I am not coming tomorrow.)

Daarom: that is why, verb comes next

Daarom (that is why, so) usually starts a new sentence. Because the verb must stay in second place, the subject moves behind it.

Mijn auto is kapot. Daarom ik kom met de bus.(Wrong: the verb must come right after daarom.)

Mijn auto is kapot. Daarom kom ik met de bus.(My car is broken. That is why I am coming by bus.)

Dus (so) means almost the same. After dus you can use normal order or put the verb first: "Dus ik kom met de bus" and "Dus kom ik met de bus" are both fine.

Zodat: so that, verb at the end

Zodat gives a result or a goal. Like omdat, it sends the verbs to the end.

Ik stuur u de foto's, zodat u kunt zien wat er kapot is.(I am sending you the photos, so that you can see what is broken.)

Kunt u mij terugbellen, zodat we een afspraak kunnen maken?(Can you call me back, so that we can make an appointment?)

Om ... te: in order to

Om ... te + infinitive says why someone does something. There is no new subject after om, and the infinitive comes last, right after te.

Ik ga naar de bibliotheek om boeken te lenen.(I am going to the library to borrow books.)

Ik schrijf u om een klacht in te dienen.(I am writing to you to make a complaint.)

The short version

  • want + normal order: ..., want ik ben moe.
  • omdat + verb at the end: ..., omdat ik moe ben.
  • Daarom + verb + subject: Daarom ga ik naar bed.
  • zodat + verb at the end: ..., zodat ik morgen fit ben.
  • om ... te + infinitive: ... om te slapen.

Try it in a real exam task: write a short message with two of these words, and our grader checks the word order and explains any mistake in plain English.

Want, omdat, daarom or zodat? Dutch linking words