zodra

As Soon as

Level 3

Use zodra to describe an action that happens immediately after another. It functions as a subordinating conjunction, meaning the verb moves to the end of the clause.

How It Works

The word zodra is a combination of zo (so) and dra (soon). It is used in all tenses to show a tight temporal link between two events.

1. Word Order in the Subordinate Clause
When you use zodra, the conjugated verb must go to the very end of that specific clause. If there are multiple verbs, the entire verb cluster moves to the end.
Example: Zodra ik thuis ben... (As soon as I am home...)
Example: Zodra ik heb gegeten... (As soon as I have eaten...)

2. The Main Clause, Inversion, and Commas
If the sentence starts with the zodra-clause, you must place a comma after it. The main clause then starts with a verb. This is known as inversion.
Example: Zodra het regent, blijven we binnen. (As soon as it rains, we stay inside.)

3. Tense Usage
Even when talking about the future, Dutch speakers usually use the present tense within the zodra-clause rather than the future tense with zullen.

4. Regional Variation
In Flanders (Belgium), you might hear van zodra. While common in speech there, it is generally not used in standard written Dutch or in the Netherlands.

Examples (4)

  1. Zodra de zon ondergaat, wordt het koud.

    As soon as the sun sets, it becomes cold.

    Word by Word: As soon as the sun under-goes, becomes it cold.

    Notice how 'ondergaat' is at the end of the first clause, and 'wordt' starts the second clause due to inversion.

  2. Ik stuur je het document zodra ik klaar ben.

    I will send you the document as soon as I am finished.

    Word by Word: I send you the document as soon as I ready am.

    When the 'zodra' clause comes second, the main clause keeps its standard word order, but the 'zodra' clause still puts the verb 'ben' at the end.

  3. Zodra hij het nieuws hoorde, vertrok hij naar huis.

    The moment he heard the news, he left for home.

    Word by Word: As soon as he the news heard, departed he to house.

    This shows 'zodra' used in the past tense to describe a sequence of completed events.

  4. Bel me zodra je aankomt op het station.

    Call me as soon as you arrive at the station.

    Word by Word: Call me as soon as you arrive at the station.

    Here, 'zodra' is used with an imperative (command) in the main clause.

Common Mistakes

  • Using English word order (SVO) in the 'zodra' clause.

    Zodra ik ben klaar, kom ik naar je toe.
    Zodra ik klaar ben, kom ik naar je toe.

    In Dutch, subordinating conjunctions like 'zodra' force the verb to the end of the clause.

  • Forgetting inversion in the main clause when starting with 'zodra'.

    Zodra het stopt met regenen, ik ga wandelen.
    Zodra het stopt met regenen, ga ik wandelen.

    When a subordinate clause starts the sentence, the main clause must begin with the verb.

  • Using 'zodra als' by mistake.

    Zodra als hij komt, beginnen we.
    Zodra hij komt, beginnen we.

    Unlike 'zo gauw als', 'zodra' is a single word and does not take 'als'.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

zodraLevel 3As Soon as

Learn This First

To learn 'zodra' (as soon as), you need to understand how Dutch handles subordinate clauses. Like other subordinating conjunctions, 'zodra' moves the conjugated verb to the end of its clause. Additionally, if you start a sentence with a 'zodra' clause, you must apply inversion in the following main clause.

Words in This Pattern

zodra