Ik ga naar de winkel om brood te kopen.
English: I go to the store to buy bread.
- Language
- Dutch
- Level
- B1
- Unit
- Bijzinnen en voegwoorden
- Practice types
- 0
What this grammar point covers
In Dutch, 'om ... te' is used to make a sentence with a purpose, similar to saying 'in order to' do something. It connects two parts of a sentence: the main action and the purpose.
When to use it
Use 'om ... te' when you want to explain the purpose or reason for an action. It is often used to answer the question 'why?' or to show intention.
Key forms
- 'om' + infinitive verb with 'te' (om ... te + verb)
- Place 'te' directly before the verb
- The verb goes at the end of the clause
Examples
Zij studeert hard om de toets te halen.
English: She studies hard to pass the test.
We nemen de trein om op tijd te zijn.
English: We take the train to be on time.
Hij spaart geld om een fiets te kopen.
English: He saves money to buy a bike.
Tips
- Do not forget to use 'te' before the verb at the end.
- Do not use 'om ... te' with modal verbs like 'kunnen', 'moeten', or 'willen'.
- The verb in the 'om ... te' part always stays in the infinitive form.