te + Adjective + om te + Infinitive

Too...to

Level 4

The Dutch 'excess construction' uses te (too) before an adjective and om te before the verb to show that a quality prevents an action.

How It Works

The te + adjective + om te pattern is the standard way to express that a quality is excessive.

1. The Structure
The sentence usually follows this order:
Subject + Verb + te + Adjective + om + (other information) + te + Infinitive.

2. The Mandatory 'Om'
In many Dutch te + infinitive constructions, the word om is optional. However, when you use te (meaning 'too') before an adjective, om becomes mandatory. You cannot leave it out.

3. Word Order (The Frame)
Dutch uses a 'frame' construction. The word om starts the final clause, and the te + infinitive ends it. Any objects, adverbs, or extra information must be placed between om and te.

4. Separable Verbs
If the verb is a separable verb, the te is placed between the prefix and the verb stem (e.g., opstaan becomes op te staan). This is known as a split infinitive.

Examples (5)

  1. De soep is te heet om te eten.

    The soup is too hot to eat.

    Word by Word: The soup is too hot for to eat.

    A simple example where 'te heet' (too hot) prevents the action of 'eten' (eating).

  2. Ik ben te moe om vandaag te werken.

    I am too tired to work today.

    Word by Word: I am too tired for today to work.

    Notice how 'vandaag' (today) is placed between 'om' and 'te werken'.

  3. Deze doos is te zwaar om alleen op te tillen.

    This box is too heavy to lift alone.

    Word by Word: This box is too heavy for alone up to lift.

    Here, 'optillen' is a separable verb, so 'te' splits it into 'op te tillen'.

  4. Het is nog te vroeg om de kinderen wakker te maken.

    It is still too early to wake the children.

    Word by Word: It is still too early for the children awake to make.

    The object 'de kinderen' and the adjective 'wakker' are placed inside the 'om...te' frame.

  5. Zij is te slim om in die val te trappen.

    She is too smart to fall into that trap.

    Word by Word: She is too smart for in that trap to step.

    This shows a figurative use of the construction.

Common Mistakes

  • Omitting the word 'om'.

    Ik ben te moe te werken.
    Ik ben te moe om te werken.

    English speakers often forget 'om' because English doesn't use a corresponding word here. In Dutch, 'om' is required after 'te + adjective'.

  • Incorrect word order inside the 'om...te' frame.

    Het is te koud om te gaan naar buiten.
    Het is te koud om naar buiten te gaan.

    The infinitive (te gaan) normally comes at the very end of the clause. Other information like 'naar buiten' comes before it.

  • Using 'teveel' instead of 'te'.

    Dit is teveel duur om te kopen.
    Dit is te duur om te kopen.

    'Teveel' means 'too much' (quantity). When modifying an adjective like 'duur' (expensive), you must use the adverb 'te'.

How It Connects

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

te + Adjective + om te + InfinitiveLevel 4Too...to

Learn This First

To understand the 'te + adjective + om te' construction, you first need to be comfortable with how 'te' and 'om te' are used with infinitives to express purpose or intent. Additionally, you must understand how adjectives are used in Dutch to describe qualities, as this pattern specifically indicates an excess of a quality that prevents an action.

Words in This Pattern

teom te