SOV in Subordinate Clauses

Level 3

While main clauses use V2 word order, subordinate clauses (starting with words like 'dat' or 'omdat') use SOV (Subject-Object-Verb) order, pushing all verbs to the end.

How It Works

In Dutch, the position of the verb is the most important indicator of sentence structure.

1. Main Clauses: Follow the Verb-Second (V2) rule. The verb is the second element.
Example: Ik drink water.

2. Subordinate Clauses: Triggered by specific words, these clauses move the verb to the end. The structure becomes: [Conjunction] + [Subject] + [Other elements] + [Verb].
Example: ...omdat ik water drink.

Triggers for SOV order:

  • Subordinating Conjunctions: omdat (because), dat (that), als (if/when), terwijl (while).
  • Relative Pronouns: die or dat (e.g., 'The man who...').
  • Indirect Questions: Words like waarom or hoe when they are not starting a direct question.

Verb Clusters: If there are multiple verbs (like an auxiliary and a participle), the whole group goes to the end. You can often choose between the 'red' or 'green' order (e.g., ...dat hij is gegaan or ...dat hij gegaan is).

Separable Verbs: In a subordinate clause, separable verbs do not split; they stay together at the end.

Examples (5)

  1. Ik blijf thuis omdat het regent.

    I am staying home because it is raining.

    Word by Word: I stay home because it rains.

    The conjunction 'omdat' triggers the subordinate clause, moving the verb 'regent' to the end.

  2. Hij zegt dat hij morgen komt.

    He says that he is coming tomorrow.

    Word by Word: He says that he tomorrow comes.

    The word 'dat' is a common trigger for SOV order. Notice 'komt' is at the very end.

  3. De vrouw die daar loopt, is mijn moeder.

    The woman who is walking there is my mother.

    Word by Word: The woman who there walks, is my mother.

    Relative clauses (starting with 'die') also follow the SOV pattern.

  4. Ik weet niet waarom hij boos is.

    I don't know why he is angry.

    Word by Word: I know not why he angry is.

    In an indirect question, the question word 'waarom' acts as a subordinator, pushing 'is' to the end.

  5. Als je de auto wast, krijg je geld.

    If you wash the car, you get money.

    Word by Word: If you the car wash, get you money.

    When a sentence starts with a subordinate clause ('Als...'), the verb 'wast' goes to the end of that clause, and the main clause that follows must invert ('krijg je').

Common Mistakes

  • Using English SVO order in a subordinate clause.

    Ik denk dat hij is moe.
    Ik denk dat hij moe is.

    Learners often place the verb 'is' right after the subject 'hij'. In Dutch subordinate clauses, the verb must go to the end.

  • Splitting separable verbs in a subordinate clause.

    ...omdat ik hem bel op.
    ...omdat ik hem opbel.

    While separable verbs split in main clauses (Ik bel hem op), they rejoin and stay together at the end of subordinate clauses.

  • Forgetting to invert the main clause when it follows a subordinate clause.

    Omdat het regent, ik blijf thuis.
    Omdat het regent, blijf ik thuis.

    If the subordinate clause comes first, the main clause must start with the verb. This is often called the 'two verbs across the comma' rule.

How It Connects

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SOV in Subordinate ClausesLevel 3

Learn This First

To learn subordinate clause word order (SOV), you first need to understand the standard Dutch main clause structure (SVO). You must also be familiar with subordinating conjunctions like 'omdat' or 'dat' which trigger this change, and have a solid grasp of basic verb conjugation to ensure the verbs placed at the end are correctly formed.

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