Ik blijf thuis omdat ik ziek ben.
English: I stay at home because I am sick.
- Language
- Dutch
- Level
- B2
- Unit
- Zinsstructuur en woordvolgorde
- Practice types
- 0
What this grammar point covers
In Dutch, when you use a conjunction (like 'omdat', 'hoewel', 'als') to connect two clauses, the word order in the second part changes. This is called inversion after conjunctions.
When to use it
Use this structure when you connect two sentences with a conjunction that introduces a reason, condition, or contrast. The verb usually goes to the end of the clause after the conjunction.
Key forms
- Main clause + conjunction + subject + rest + verb
- Ik ga naar huis omdat ik moe ben.
- Hij blijft thuis hoewel hij wil werken.
Examples
Ze lacht hoewel ze verdrietig is.
English: She laughs although she is sad.
Als het regent, blijf ik binnen.
English: If it rains, I stay inside.
We eten buiten tenzij het koud is.
English: We eat outside unless it is cold.
Tips
- Remember: after conjunctions like 'omdat', 'hoewel', 'als', the verb goes to the end of the clause.
- Do not put the verb right after the subject, as in normal sentences.
- Practice with common conjunctions to get used to the word order.
Exceptions and edge cases
- In spoken Dutch, especially in informal situations, word order mistakes are common, but try to use the correct order in writing.