LangritSubordinate clauses in Dutch
A subordinate clause (bijzin) starts with a subordinating conjunction such as omdat, als, wanneer, terwijl and cannot stand on its own. The single most important rule:
In a subordinate clause, the verb goes to the end.
This is a big change from English, where the word order stays the same after "because" or "when". In Dutch, ik ben ziek becomes ... omdat ik ziek ben.
Common subordinating conjunctions
| Dutch | English |
|---|---|
| omdat | because |
| als | if / when (present or future) |
| wanneer | when |
| toen | when (single event in the past) |
| terwijl | while |
| hoewel | although |
| voordat | before |
| nadat | after |
| zodat | so that |
| dat | that (reporting content) |
Basic examples
Ik blijf thuis omdat ik ziek ben. — I stay home because I am sick.
Hij belt als hij thuis komt. — He calls when he gets home.
Ik denk dat zij gelukkig is. — I think that she is happy.
Several verbs at the end
If more than one verb ends up at the end, they cluster together. With a modal, the order is "modal + infinitive"; with a participle, both heb gewerkt and gewerkt heb are correct:
... omdat ik gisteren heb gewerkt. — ... because I worked yesterday.
... omdat ik morgen wil komen. — ... because I want to come tomorrow.
omdat versus want
Both mean "because", but they behave differently:
| Word | Type | Word order |
|---|---|---|
| omdat | subordinating | verb to the end |
| want | coordinating | normal order (V2) |
Ik ga niet omdat het regent. (verb last)
Ik ga niet, want het regent. (verb second)
Both sentences mean the same thing.
toen versus als/wanneer
- toen: a single, one-time event in the past → Toen ik tien was, woonde ik in Canada. — When I was ten, I lived in Canada.
- als / wanneer: habitual, present, or future → Als ik thuis ben, kook ik. — When I am home, I cook.
English "when" covers all of these, so pick carefully: past one-time events always take toen.
Inversion when the bijzin comes first
If the subordinate clause comes first, the main clause inverts subject and verb:
Omdat het regent, blijf ik thuis. — Because it is raining, I stay home.
The whole subordinate clause counts as position one, so the verb of the main clause still lands in position two.