Dutch word order 1: theory is easy but needs a lot of practice. Dutch word order is unique and demands long-term monitoring and attention. Which language do you speak most often? Be it English or some other language, the word order of that language comes naturally- and it’s different from the Dutch one. However, Dutch word order is like most sports: we can learn the technique, but automating it requires a lot of training.
Dutch word order 1 is the first in a series of two Suitcase talen blogs about how to build a sentence: Dutch word order 1 and Dutch word order 2
Estimated Reading time 6 minutes
Margreet Kwakernaak, author of Dutch for Dummies and seven other Dutch textbooks
Dutch word order 1: the verb comes second: Ik woon in Nederland
Firstly, basic rules are simplifications – as is this one. Many sentences have more than just one verb. In that case, the first verb or word of action comes second in the sentence. The other verb is at the end:
Ik leer Nederlands
Jij wilt Nederlands leren
Hij begint Nederlands te leren
Wij hebben Nederlands geleerd.
Additionally, we must dive deeper into what the first position and second position mean. Can we count word by word? Let’s continue with some examples.
Either one word or a group of them can be in the first place: Nu woon ik in Nederland
Nu leer ik Nederlands
Volgend jaar ga ik in Nederland wonen
Later wil ik in Nederland wonen
Tien jaar geleden heb ik in Nederland gewoond
Fine-tuning your Dutch word order
Secondly, rules should be clear and simple, but the reality is more complex.
In reality, the two basic main rules only apply to the most common, simple sentences. In Dutch word order 2 I give you others, to be applied to compound sentences.
Moreover, all rules have exceptions. ‘The verb is in the second place’ – does not apply to all question sentences. As a consequence, you need some extra information.
How to make a question in Dutch- the five Ws and How
Like in English, we make questions using question words. Do you remember The five Ws and How? These are the first letters of the interrogative words
- who
- what
- when
- where
- why and
- how
In Dutch, we have the same ones:
- wie
- wat
- wanneer
- waar
- waarom en
- hoe
The above-mentioned interrogative words introduce questions whose answers are considered essential in information-gathering in journalism, research, and police investigations. Additionally, life taught me, that when meeting new people, closed questions like ‘ Are you new in the Netherlands?’ don’t lead to a proper conversation, as the answer may be just – ‘No’. As a consequence, when I met new people, it became second nature to open my questions with an interrogative word: How long do you live in the Netherlands? or What do you think about living here? – is a good start to an interesting conversation.
Fortunately, the verb stays second in questions starting with an interrogative word:
- Hoe lang woon je al in Nederland?
- Waar woon je?
- Hoe is het leven hier?
The exception to the word order rule: closed questions start with the verb!
Finally, we have arrived at the exception to the rule. Dutch has questions starting with an interrogative word, but we also have questions that start with a verb. That’s the exception to the basic word order rule!
The name of questions starting with a verb is closed questions, as you can answer them with the shortest possible answer: yes or no.
- Woon je in al lang in Nederland?
- Woon je in Amsterdam?
- Is het leven hier goed?
Again, as in English – though in English you may start with do or does, soon followed by the main verb:
- Have you been living in the Netherlands for a long time?
- Do you live in Amsterdam?
- Is life good here?
Now it’s your turn: exercise with the basic rule of Dutch word order: the verb comes second
1. Search for the verbs in each sentence and answer the question: in which place are the verbs?
Wanneer werken de meeste mensen?
Van maandag tot en met vrijdag. De meeste mensen zijn in het weekend vrij. We werken dan meestal niet. We gaan dan naar familie. Of we gaan naar buiten met de kinderen, of met vrienden.
2. Search for the first word or the first group of words:
Wanneer werken de meeste mensen?
Van maandag tot en met vrijdag. De meeste mensen zijn in het weekend vrij. We werken dan meestal niet. We gaan dan naar familie. Of we gaan naar buiten met de kinderen, of met vrienden.
3. Define the questions. Are they open or closed?
4. Is the first verb in the first, or in the second place?
5. In case there are more verbs, where are the other verbs?
a.Woon je in Nederland?
b.Hoe lang woon je al in Nederland?
c.Woon je in Amsterdam?
d.Waar woon je in Amsterdam?
e.Is het leven goed hier?
f.Waarom vind je het leven goed hier?
g.Heb je eerst in een andere stad gewoond?
h.Heb je daar een goed leven gehad?
i.Waar zou je liever willen wonen?
Please find the answers at the bottom of this blog.
Did you like this? Let’s continue to the
Conclusion:
- In basic Dutch word order, the verb comes second
- Either one word or a group of words can be in the first position
- Exception: questions to be answered with yes or no start with the verb
Well-organized Dutch sentences need a lot of training
Did you ever hear of the Delft method? It’s the fastest way to speak Dutch – provided that you take the conversation classes that belong to it. The blog The Delft method is faster explains why you learn so quickly with this method.
Suitcase talen courses offer you the training you need for your word-order automation! You prepare each class with e-learning, and you practice in the online conversation class, led by an experienced teacher, in a small group. Courses are short and can be followed from all over the world.
Suitcase talen students are highly educated and willing to study 6 hours per week to learn Dutch.
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Answers:
1. werk, zijn, werken, gaan, gaan. All verbs are in the second place.
2. wanneer, de meeste mensen, we, we, we.
3. a.closed, b.open, c.closed, d.open, e.closed. f.open, g.closed, h.closed, i.open
4 and 5 .a. first, b.second, c.first, d.second, e.first, f.second, g.first plus last, h. first plus last, i. second plus one but last and last
