Ik drink koffie voordat ik naar mijn werk ga.
English: I drink coffee before I go to work.
- Language
- Dutch
- Level
- B1
- Unit
- Bijzinnen en voegwoorden
- Practice types
- 0
What this grammar point covers
'Voordat' is a conjunction in Dutch that introduces a subordinate clause (bijzin) and means that one action happens before another. It helps you say what happens first and what happens next.
When to use it
You use 'voordat' in Dutch when you want to talk about something that happens before another action. It is used to show the order of two events.
Key forms
- 'voordat' + subject + rest of the sentence (verb at the end)
- Main clause + 'voordat'-clause
- 'Voordat'-clause + main clause
Examples
Voordat we beginnen, wil ik iets zeggen.
English: Before we start, I want to say something.
Hij wast zijn handen voordat hij eet.
English: He washes his hands before he eats.
Voordat het regent, moeten we naar huis gaan.
English: Before it rains, we have to go home.
Tips
- Remember: In the 'voordat'-clause, the verb goes to the end.
- You can put the 'voordat'-clause at the beginning or after the main clause.
- Don't forget to use a comma when the 'voordat'-clause comes first.