# Dutch word order: how to build a sentence

> The verb in second place, inversion, questions, two verbs and clauses with omdat: Dutch word order step by step, with lots of examples.

Published on 2026-09-24, last checked against official sources on 2026-09-24.
URL: https://taalpro.nl/en/guides/dutch-word-order/

## In short

- In an ordinary Dutch sentence (a main clause), the conjugated verb comes in second place: ‘Ik werk vandaag’ (I am working today).
- If a Dutch sentence starts with a time or a place, the subject comes straight after the verb: ‘Vandaag werk ik’ (Today I am working). This is called inversion.
- If a Dutch sentence has two verbs, the second verb goes to the end: ‘Ik wil morgen komen’ (I want to come tomorrow), ‘Ik heb gisteren gewerkt’ (I worked yesterday).
- In a Dutch subordinate clause with ‘omdat’ (because) or ‘dat’ (that), the verb goes to the end, just like in Persian: ‘Ik blijf thuis, omdat ik ziek ben.’

You may already know quite a few Dutch words. But in what order do you put them? In Dutch, the verb has a fixed place in the sentence. Once you know that place, you can quickly make correct sentences. This lesson shows the most important rules, with lots of examples.

## Main clause: the verb in second place

In an ordinary sentence (a **main clause**), the conjugated verb comes in **second place**. The conjugated verb is the one that changes with *ik* (I), *jij* (you) or *hij* (he): *ik werk*, *hij werkt*. The subject often comes first.

Note: a ‘place’ is not always one word. *Mijn broer* (my brother) or *om negen uur* (at nine o'clock) together count as one place.

| place 1 | place 2 (verb) | the rest | meaning |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Ik | woon | in Utrecht. | I live in Utrecht. |
| Mijn broer | werkt | in een winkel. | My brother works in a shop. |
| Wij | leren | Nederlands. | We are learning Dutch. |
| De les | begint | om negen uur. | The lesson starts at nine. |

## Starting with a time or place? Then inversion

You can also start the sentence with something else, such as a time (*morgen* ‘tomorrow’, *vandaag* ‘today’, *om acht uur* ‘at eight’) or a place (*in de winkel* ‘in the shop’, *hier* ‘here’). The verb stays in place 2. The subject then comes straight **after** the verb. This is called **inversion**.

| place 1 | place 2 (verb) | subject | the rest | meaning |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Morgen | ga | ik | naar de dokter. | Tomorrow I am going to the doctor. |
| Vandaag | werkt | mijn vrouw | thuis. | Today my wife is working from home. |
| In de winkel | spreek | ik | Nederlands. | In the shop I speak Dutch. |
| Op zaterdag | speel | ik | voetbal. | On Saturdays I play football. |

Not: *Morgen ik ga naar de dokter.* Correct: *Morgen ga ik naar de dokter.*

## Questions

A **yes/no question** starts with the verb. A question with a **question word** (*wat* ‘what’, *waar* ‘where’, *wanneer* ‘when’, *hoe* ‘how’, *wie* ‘who’, *waarom* ‘why’) starts with the question word, and the verb comes in place 2.

| type of question | example | meaning |
| --- | --- | --- |
| yes/no | Woon je in Utrecht? | Do you live in Utrecht? |
| yes/no | Heb je kinderen? | Do you have children? |
| question word | Waar woon je? | Where do you live? |
| question word | Hoe laat begint de les? | What time does the lesson start? |
| question word | Wat doe je morgen? | What are you doing tomorrow? |

Note: when *je* or *jij* comes after the verb, the *-t* disappears. You say *jij werkt*, but *Werk jij morgen?* (Are you working tomorrow?)

## Two verbs: the second verb goes to the end

Does the sentence have two verbs? Then the conjugated verb stays in place 2 and the other verb goes all the way to the **end**. This happens, for example, with *willen* (want), *kunnen* (can), *moeten* (must) and *gaan* (going to), and in the perfect tense with *hebben* and *zijn*.

| place 1 | place 2 | middle | end | meaning |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Ik | wil | morgen | komen. | I want to come tomorrow. |
| Wij | moeten | om negen uur | beginnen. | We have to start at nine. |
| Ik | ga | vanavond | koken. | I am going to cook tonight. |
| Ik | heb | gisteren | gewerkt. | I worked yesterday. |
| Zij | is | naar de markt | gegaan. | She went to the market. |
| Morgen | kan | ik niet | komen. | I can't come tomorrow. |

## Clauses with omdat or dat: the verb at the end

A **subordinate clause** is a clause that cannot stand on its own. It often starts with *omdat* (because), *dat* (that) or *als* (if, when). In a subordinate clause, the conjugated verb goes **to the end**.

| main clause | subordinate clause | meaning |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Ik blijf thuis, | omdat ik ziek ben. | I am staying at home because I am ill. |
| Ik kom niet, | omdat ik moet werken. | I am not coming because I have to work. |
| Ik denk | dat de winkel dicht is. | I think (that) the shop is closed. |
| Hij zegt | dat hij morgen komt. | He says (that) he is coming tomorrow. |
| Bel me | als je tijd hebt. | Call me if you have time. |

Starting with the subordinate clause? Then the whole clause counts as place 1, and the verb comes next: *Omdat ik ziek ben, blijf ik thuis.*

Note: after *want* (because) it is **not** a subordinate clause. The verb simply stays in place 2: *Ik blijf thuis, want ik ben ziek.*

## Verbs in two parts

Some verbs have two parts, such as *opbellen* (to call), *meenemen* (to take along), *opstaan* (to get up) and *afspreken* (to arrange to meet). In a main clause, the first part goes to the end of the sentence.

| verb | example | meaning |
| --- | --- | --- |
| opbellen | Ik bel mijn moeder vanavond op. | I am calling my mother tonight. |
| meenemen | Neem je een paraplu mee? | Are you taking an umbrella? |
| opstaan | Ik sta om zeven uur op. | I get up at seven. |
| afspreken | We spreken morgen om drie uur af. | We are meeting tomorrow at three. |

With two verbs or in a subordinate clause, the verb stays in one piece: *Ik wil mijn moeder opbellen.* / *…omdat ik mijn moeder opbel.* In the perfect tense, *ge* goes in the middle: *Ik heb mijn moeder opgebeld.*

## Everything at a glance

| type of sentence | example | where is the verb? |
| --- | --- | --- |
| main clause | Ik werk morgen. | place 2 |
| inversion | Morgen werk ik. | place 2, subject after it |
| yes/no question | Werk je morgen? | place 1 |
| question word | Wanneer werk je? | place 2 |
| two verbs | Ik wil morgen werken. | place 2 + end |
| subordinate clause | …omdat ik morgen werk. | end |

## If you speak Farsi or Dari

- In Persian, the verb usually comes at the end of the sentence. In a Dutch main clause you move it forward, to place 2. Not: *Ik morgen naar mijn werk ga.* Correct: *Ik ga morgen naar mijn werk.*
- Starting with *morgen*, *vandaag* or *nu* (now)? Then put the verb straight after it: *Vandaag ga ik naar school.*
- In Persian you often turn a sentence into a question with just your voice. In Dutch, the word order changes too: *Je woont hier.* → *Woon je hier?*
- Good news: in a subordinate clause with *omdat*, *dat* or *als*, the verb goes at the end, just like in Persian. You already know that order.

You can practise this in the [A1 course](https://taalpro.nl/en/courses/a1-civic-integration-exam-abroad-mvv/) or with the free [A1 word list](https://taalpro.nl/en/dutch-a1-word-list/).

## Sources

- Taaladvies.net (Taalunie): https://taaladvies.net/termen-hoofdzin/
- Taaladvies.net (Taalunie): https://taaladvies.net/termen-inversie/
- Taaladvies.net (Taalunie): https://taaladvies.net/termen-bijzin/

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Source: TaalPro, online institute for Dutch as a second language (https://taalpro.nl/en/guides/dutch-word-order/). Rules can change: the official websites (DUO, IND, CvTE) always take precedence.