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Word order
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This is an external web link, which will open a new browser window.Word order exercises   This is an external web link, which will open a new browser window.Wiki Dutch Word Order (EN)

English version by Bieneke Berendsen :: other languages
Those of you who have already struggled with the Dutch word order probably know that the basic order of a Dutch main clause is as follows:


For example:

subject & finite verb
 time manner place other verb(s)
Ik heb vanmorgen met tegenzin in de sportschool getraind
Met tegenzin = reluctantly, unwillingly     De sportschool = the gym

In general, this word order is correct. However, it is a severe over-simplification of reality: most sentences contain more than just the components mentioned above. What would we do, for example, with the direct object? The indirect object? The reflexive pronoun? And so on. Further, the time-manner-place order can vary according to the type of time, manner and place you use.

You were saying...?

If you could not be bothered with these details, I suggest you stick to the simple guideline above. Indeed, forming a proper sentence can be a hazardous job, and you may not be interested in mastering it by learning a bunch of abstract principles. Another way to obtain a sense for the correct word order is by reading (a lot of) Dutch. Yet, it could be helpful to glance through this chapter anyway. You may pick up a few useful hints.
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