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Beginner

Word Order (V2)

The verb-second rule

The finite verb is second

In a main clause the conjugated verb is always the second element.

💬 Examples
Ik drink koffie.
I drink coffee.
📝 Subject-verb-object
Vandaag drink ik koffie.
Today I drink coffee.
📝 Time first, but verb still 2nd
Inversion after a fronted element

If a non-subject opens the clause, subject and verb swap.

💬 Examples
Morgen ga ik naar huis.
Tomorrow I go home.
📝 Morgen first → ga ik
In Nederland spreekt men Nederlands.
In the Netherlands one speaks Dutch.
📝 Phrase first → verb-subject
Other verbs go to the end

Infinitives and participles move to the end of the clause.

💬 Examples
Ik wil koffie drinken.
I want to drink coffee.
📝 wil 2nd, drinken at the end
Ik heb koffie gedronken.
I have drunk coffee.
📝 heb 2nd, gedronken at the end