Zinsbouw
Dutch sentence structure follows specific word order rules. The verb always takes the second position in a main clause — this is called the V2 rule.
In a regular sentence, the subject comes first, then the verb, then the rest.
Practice: Complete: "Ze ___ uit Peru." (komen)
komt — Regular hoofdzin: subject (Ze) first, then verb. komen → stem = kom, +t for zij → komt.
When another element (time, place, adverb) starts the sentence, the verb stays in position 2 — subject and verb swap.
Practice: Complete the inversion: "Elke dag ___ ik met de trein." (gaan)
ga — When a time adverb starts the sentence, the verb jumps to position 2. gaan → ik ga → inversion: Elke dag ga ik …
| Position 1 | Verb (2) | Subject | Rest | Example |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ik | werk | — | bij een bank. | Ik werk bij een bank. I work at a bank. |
| Elke dag | ga | ik | met de trein. | Elke dag ga ik met de trein. Every day I go by train. |
| Morgen | komt | onze dochter | naar huis. | Morgen komt onze dochter naar huis. Tomorrow our daughter comes home. |
Practice: Complete: "Morgen ___ onze dochter naar huis." (komen)
komt — Morgen (time) is in position 1 → verb stays in position 2. komen → stem = kom, +t for zij → komt.
Questions starting with a question word (wie, wat, waar, wanneer, hoe). Verb stays in position 2.
Practice: Complete: "Waar ___ je?" (wonen)
woon — Waar is the question word (position 1). Verb stays in position 2. wonen → stem = woon → woon je.
Questions without a question word. The verb moves to position 1.
Practice: What type of sentence is "Werkt u in Amsterdam?"
gesloten vraag — The verb werkt is in position 1 with no question word → it is a yes/no question → gesloten vraag.
Practice Sentence Structure Quiz with zinsbouw cards
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