Foundations

Dutch Word Order Builder

Master Dutch sentence structure with the position system: every element has its place. This is the canonical explanation of Dutch verb position — the "omdat," "als... dan," and modal-verb rules referenced from Sentence Structures and the exam pages are all explained here in full.

The Golden Rule: in Dutch main clauses, the conjugated verb is always in position 2 (the V2 rule). Everything else arranges around it.

Position Legend

1

Subject + Verb

2

Direct Object

3

Time

!

Specifier (niet / geen / zeker)

4

Prep Phrases

5

Indirect Object / Prefix

6

Secondary Verb (end)

Basic Sentence Structure

Main clause formula

[Subject + Verb] + [Direct Object] + [Time] + [Place/Prep] + [Secondary Verb]

The verb is always in position 2. Time comes before place.

I work in Amsterdam

1 · Subject + Verb

ik werk

4 · Prep Phrases

in Amsterdam

I work in Amsterdam tomorrow

1 · Subject + Verb

ik werk

3 · Time

morgen

4 · Prep Phrases

in Amsterdam

I will see a friend tomorrow

1 · Subject + Verb

ik zie

3 · Time

morgen

4 · Prep Phrases

een vriend

I will see my friend tomorrow

1 · Subject + Verb

ik zie

2 · Direct Object

mijn vriend

3 · Time

morgen

I see this movie every year

1 · Subject + Verb

ik kijk

2 · Direct Object

deze film

3 · Time

elk jaar

Note: "een vriend" (a friend) is indefinite, so it goes in position 4. "mijn vriend" (my friend) is definite, so it goes in position 2.

Modal Verbs (willen, moeten, kunnen)

Modal verb formula

[Subject + Modal] + [Object] + [Time] + [Place] + [Infinitive Verb]

The modal verb takes position 2; the main verb goes to the end as an infinitive.

I must work in Amsterdam tomorrow

1 · Subj + Modal

ik moet

3 · Time

morgen

4 · Prep Phrases

in Amsterdam

6 · Infinitive

werken

I want to sleep in my bed tonight

1 · Subj + Modal

ik wil

3 · Time

vanavond

4 · Prep Phrases

in mijn bed

6 · Infinitive

slapen

I want to go to an Italian restaurant tonight

1 · Subj + Modal

ik wil

3 · Time

vanavond

4 · Prep Phrases

naar een Italiaans restaurant

6 · Infinitive

gaan

I go watch a film with my friend

1 · Subj + Modal

ik ga

4 · Prep Phrases

met mijn vriend een film

6 · Infinitive

kijken

Negation (niet, geen)

Where does "niet" go?

niet → after time, before prep phrases OR after a definite direct object

geen = "not a/any" — replaces een/indefinite nouns. niet = "not" — used with definite objects or no object.

I don't work in Amsterdam tomorrow

1 · Subj + Verb

ik werk

3 · Time

morgen

! · Specifier

niet

4 · Prep Phrases

in Amsterdam

I don't know Amanda

1 · Subj + Verb

ik ken

2 · Direct Object

Amanda

! · Specifier

niet

I will not see my friend tomorrow

1 · Subj + Verb

ik zie

2 · Direct Object

mijn vriend

3 · Time

morgen

! · Specifier

niet

I will not go with Amanda today

1 · Subj + Verb

ik ga

3 · Time

vandaag

! · Specifier

niet

4 · Prep Phrases

met Amanda

I don't know any Amanda (geen)

1 · Subj + Verb

ik ken

! · Specifier

geen

4 · Prep Phrases

Amanda

"zeker" (certainly) goes in the same specifier position: "Ik zie mijn vriend morgen zeker."

Subordinate Clauses (omdat, nadat, als)

Subordinating conjunctions

omdat/nadat/als + [subject] + [objects] + [time] + [place] + [VERB at END]

The verb moves to the end of the clause — this is the rule "Omdat..." and "Als... dan..." on the Sentence Structures page point back to.

Coordinating vs. subordinating

want, en, maar, of — coordinating: word order stays normal, verb stays in position 2.

omdat, nadat, als, dat, terwijl — subordinating: verb moves to the end.

I will go to the park

1 · Subject

ik ga

4 · Pred/Phrase

naar de park

...because it is good weather (want — coordinating)

0 · Conj

...want

1 · Subject

het is

4 · Pred/Phrase

lekker weer

...because it is good weather (omdat — subordinating)

0 · Conj

...omdat

1 · Subject

het

4 · Pred/Phrase

lekker weer

6 · Verb (end)

Sam is going to the police

1 · Subject

Sam gaat

4 · Pred/Phrase

naar de politie

...and her purse has been stolen (en — coordinating)

0 · Conj

...en

1 · Subject

haar portemonnee is

6 · Verb (end)

gestolen

...after her purse has been stolen (nadat — subordinating)

0 · Conj

...nadat

1 · Subject

haar portemonnee

6 · Verb (end)

is gestolen

Separable Verbs (scheidbare werkwoorden)

Separable verb formula

Main clause: [Subj + verb stem] + ... + [prefix at END]

With modal: [Subj + modal] + ... + [prefix-verb together at END]

Perfect tense: [Subj + hebben/zijn] + ... + [ge- between prefix and stem]

Examples: uitlezen (finish reading), instappen (step in), opstaan (get up).

I read that book

1 · Subj + Verb

ik lees

2 · Object

dat boek

I read that book out (uitlezen)

1 · Subj + Verb

ik lees

2 · Object

dat boek

5 · Prefix

uit

I must read that book out today

1 · Subj + Verb

ik moet

2 · Object

dat boek

3 · Time

vandaag

5 · Prefix

uit-

6 · Verb (end)

lezen

I have read that book out yesterday

1 · Subj + Verb

ik heb

2 · Object

dat boek

3 · Time

gisteren

5 · Prefix

uit-

6 · Verb (end)

ge-lezen

You step directly in the train

1 · Subj + Verb

je stapt

3 · Time

direct

6 · Verb (end)

de trein in

You can directly step in the train

1 · Subj + Verb

je kunt

3 · Time

direct

6 · Verb (end)

de trein instappen

I have stepped in the train

1 · Subj + Verb

ik heb

6 · Verb (end)

de trein ingestapt

Reflexive Verbs (zich)

Reflexive pronouns

Common reflexive verbs: zich voelen, zich voorstellen, zich interesseren, zich herinneren.

I didn't feel good (zich voelen)

1 · Subj + Verb

ik voel

2 · Reflexive

! · Spec

niet lekker

Tanya didn't feel good today

1 · Subj + Verb

Tanya voelt

2 · Reflexive

zich

3 · Time

vandaag

! · Spec

niet lekker

I shall introduce myself

1 · Subj + Verb

ik zal

2 · Reflexive

6 · Rest

voorstellen

I am interested in your work

1 · Subj + Verb

ik interesseer

2 · Reflexive

6 · Rest

voor jouw werk

He does not remember it

1 · Subj + Verb

hij herinnert

2 · Reflexive

het zich

! · Spec

niet

Inversion: When Something Else Comes First

Inversion rule

[Time/Place/Conjunction] + [Verb] + [Subject] + [Rest of sentence]

When time, place, or another element starts the sentence, subject and verb swap positions — but the verb stays in position 2!

I want to sleep in my bed tonight

1 · Verb + Subj

ik wil

4 · Rest

in mijn bed

6 · End Verb

slapen

Tonight, I want to sleep in my bed

0 · First

vanavond

1 · Verb + Subj

wil ik

4 · Rest

in mijn bed

6 · End Verb

slapen

Sometimes, I go watch a film with my friend

0 · First

soms

1 · Verb + Subj

ga ik

4 · Rest

met mijn vriend een film

6 · End Verb

kijken

When will you go watch a film tonight?

0 · First

wanneer

1 · Verb + Subj

ga je

4 · Rest

vanavond een film

6 · End Verb

kijken

Practice: Build the Sentence

Click words from the bank below, in order, to build the Dutch translation. This checks structural correctness only — no writing is graded here.

Exercise 1 of 10

I want to go to the cinema tonight.

Arrange the words in correct Dutch order:

Quick Rules to Remember

V2 rule

The conjugated verb is ALWAYS in position 2 in main clauses.

Time before place

morgen in Amsterdam — not: in Amsterdam morgen.

Modal verbs

The main verb goes to the infinitive at the end.

niet

After time, before prep phrases (or after a definite object).

Subordinate clauses

Verb goes to the END after omdat/nadat/als/dat.

Separable verbs

Prefix separates and goes to the end in a main clause.

Perfect tense

ge- goes between prefix and stem (uit-ge-lezen).

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