Building sentences (1)

Many Dutch language learners struggle with Dutch sentence structures.

Probably because it’s so different from English.

Four important differences (and there’s a fifth one):

1. In Dutch time precedes place:

I go to the supermarket on Saturday. = Ik ga op zaterdag naar de supermarkt.

2. In a Dutch sentence with two verbs, the second verb is put at the end:

I have to work tomorrow. = Ik moet morgen werken.

3. In Dutch the subject and verb are inverted when we start the sentence with time,

place or anything but the subject:

Today we’re going to the beach = Vandaag gaan wij naar het strand.

4. In Dutch we have separable verbs:

I get up at 7 am. (to get up) = Ik sta om 7 uur op. (opstaan)

Print this worksheet ‘Zinnen maken’ for basic sentence building.

Get your free copy HERE.

Building sentences