totdat

Until

Level 2

Totdat is a subordinating conjunction meaning 'until'. It marks the end point of an action and requires the verb to move to the end of the clause.

How It Works

The word totdat is a combination of the preposition tot (until) and the conjunction dat (that).

1. Word Order:
When you use totdat, the verb in that part of the sentence must move to the end because it is a subordinate clause. In longer sentences, it is common to place a comma before totdat to improve readability.
Example: Ik wacht, totdat de bus komt. (I wait until the bus comes).

2. Sentence-Initial Position:
If you start a sentence with a totdat clause, the main clause must use inversion. This means the verb comes immediately after the comma, followed by the subject.
Example: Totdat de bus komt, wacht ik hier. (Until the bus comes, I wait here).

3. Separable Verbs:
Because totdat creates a subordinate clause, separable verbs stay together at the end of the sentence. The prefix is not separated from the verb stem.
Example: Ik blijf hier totdat hij opbelt. (I stay here until he calls).

4. Tot vs. Totdat:
Both tot and totdat are used as conjunctions to introduce a clause. While tot was historically only a preposition (used with nouns: tot morgen), modern Dutch accepts both tot and totdat as conjunctions in all registers. They are interchangeable when followed by a clause.

5. Tense:
Even when referring to a future event, Dutch usually uses the present tense after totdat. To emphasize that an action must be fully completed before the main action stops, the present perfect is used.
Example: Je mag niet spelen totdat je je huiswerk hebt gemaakt. (You may not play until you have finished your homework).

Examples (5)

  1. We wachten totdat de regen ophoudt.

    We are waiting until the rain stops.

    Word by Word: We wait until the rain stops.

    Notice how 'ophoudt' (stops) moves to the end of the clause after 'totdat'.

  2. Blijf hier zitten totdat ik je roep.

    Stay sitting here until I call you.

    Word by Word: Stay here sit until I you call.

    The verb 'roep' is at the end. This is a common way to give instructions.

  3. Hij bleef werken totdat hij moe was.

    He kept working until he was tired.

    Word by Word: He stayed work until he tired was.

    Even in the past tense, the verb 'was' must go to the end of the 'totdat' clause.

  4. Totdat de bus komt, wacht ik hier.

    Until the bus comes, I am waiting here.

    Word by Word: Until the bus comes, wait I here.

    When the 'totdat' clause starts the sentence, the main clause uses inversion (verb 'wacht' before subject 'ik').

  5. Roer in de pan totdat de suiker smelt.

    Stir in the pan until the sugar melts.

    Word by Word: Stir in the pan until the sugar melts.

    Used here in a recipe context to describe a continuous action with a specific end state.

Common Mistakes

  • Using main clause word order (verb in second position) after 'totdat'.

    Ik wacht totdat de film begint nu.
    Ik wacht totdat de film nu begint.

    Because 'totdat' is a subordinating conjunction, the verb 'begint' must go to the very end of its clause.

  • Using 'totdat' as a preposition before a noun.

    Ik blijf hier totdat maandag.
    Ik blijf hier tot maandag.

    'Totdat' must be followed by a clause (subject + verb). If you only have a noun or time expression, use 'tot'.

  • Using 'tot' when you need to say the last day is included.

    Different MeaningDe winkel is open tot zaterdag.
    De winkel is open tot en met zaterdag.

    'De winkel is open tot zaterdag' is correct, but it is not clear whether Saturday itself counts. Use 'tot en met zaterdag' to include Saturday.

How It Connects

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

totdatLevel 2Until

Learn This First

To use 'totdat' (until) correctly, you must understand Dutch subordinate clause word order, where the conjugated verb moves to the end of the sentence. Familiarity with other subordinating conjunctions like 'omdat' or 'voordat' is essential for learning this structure.

Words in This Pattern

totdat