voordat
Before
Use voordat to say 'before' when followed by a full sentence (subject + verb). It triggers subordinate word order, pushing the verb to the end.
How It Works
The word voordat is used to connect two actions where one happens after the other. It is a subordinating conjunction, which means it changes the structure of the sentence it introduces.
1. Word Order
In a clause starting with voordat, the conjugated verb must move to the very end of that clause. This is known as SOV (Subject-Object-Verb) order.
Example: ...voordat ik naar huis ga. (not ga naar huis).
2. Sentence Placement
You can place the voordat-clause in two positions:
- After the main clause: The main clause keeps its normal order.
Ik poets mijn tanden voordat ik ga slapen. - At the start of the sentence: This triggers inversion in the main clause (Verb-Subject).
Voordat ik ga slapen, poets ik mijn tanden.
3. Voordat vs. Voor
It is essential to distinguish these two:
- Use voor before a noun phrase: voor het ontbijt (before breakfast).
- Use voordat before a clause: voordat we ontbijten (before we eat breakfast). Informally voor is also heard before a clause, but voordat is the standard choice.
Examples (4)
- Was je handen voordat je aan tafel gaat.
Wash your hands before you come to the table.
Word by Word: Wash your hands before you to table go.
Notice how the verb 'gaat' moves to the end of the 'voordat' clause.
- Voordat de film begon, kochten we popcorn.
Before the movie started, we bought popcorn.
Word by Word: Before the movie started, bought we popcorn.
When the 'voordat' clause comes first, the main clause uses inversion (kochten we).
- Je moet je huiswerk afmaken voordat je mag spelen.
You must finish your homework before you are allowed to play.
Word by Word: You must your homework finish before you may play.
In a verb cluster at the end, 'mag' and 'spelen' both sit at the end of the subclause.
- Voordat hij vertrok, had hij de deur op slot gedaan.
Before he left, he had locked the door.
Word by Word: Before he left, had he the door on lock done.
This shows the use of the pluperfect tense to show an action completed before another past action.
Common Mistakes
Using 'voor' instead of 'voordat' to introduce a clause.
Different MeaningBel me voor je vertrekt.Bel me voordat je vertrekt.'Voor je vertrekt' is heard in informal speech. 'Voordat' is the standard conjunction for a clause with a verb, so write that in careful Dutch.
Keeping the verb in the second position (English word order).
Voordat ik ga naar de winkel...Voordat ik naar de winkel ga...In Dutch, subordinating conjunctions like 'voordat' always push the verb to the end of the clause.
How It Connects
Learn This First
To use 'voordat' correctly, you need to understand Dutch subordinate clause word order (bijzin), where the verb moves to the end of the phrase. It is helpful to first learn 'omdat' as it uses the same structural pattern. Additionally, a solid grasp of basic verb conjugation is necessary to form the clauses that 'voordat' connects.
- omdatBecause (Subordinating)
Voordat is a subordinating conjunction that follows the same word order rules as omdat, where the conjugated verb moves to the end of the clause.
Level 2 - voorFor/Before
Understanding the preposition 'voor' (before/for) provides the semantic basis for the temporal conjunction 'voordat'.
Level 1
Related Patterns
- SOV in Subordinate Clauses
Voordat is a subordinating conjunction and follows these specific word order rules.
Level 3 - nadatAfter
Nadat (after) is the temporal opposite of voordat and follows the same grammatical rules.
Level 2 - Verb-second Rule
Inversion occurs in the main clause if the 'voordat' clause starts the sentence.
Level 3 - Pluperfect Tense
The pluperfect tense is often used with 'voordat' to describe actions completed in the past.
Level 2
Learn Next
Patterns that build on this one.
Words in This Pattern
Practice voordat in Bubblegum
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