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Conjunctions & Word Order

Coordinating vs subordinating

Coordinating: order unchanged

en, maar, of, want, dus keep the normal V2 order.

📊 Conjunction types
Type Examples Effect on the verb
coordinating en, maar, of, want, dus no change (V2)
subordinating omdat, dat, als, terwijl verb to the end
💬 Examples
Ik kom, want ik heb tijd.
I'm coming, because I have time.
📝 want: verb stays 2nd
Hij werkt en zij leest.
He works and she reads.
📝 en joins two main clauses
Subordinating: verb to the end

omdat, dat, als, terwijl, hoewel push the verb to the end.

💬 Examples
Ik kom omdat ik tijd heb.
I'm coming because I have time.
📝 omdat → heb at end
Hij belde terwijl ik sliep.
He called while I was sleeping.
📝 terwijl → sliep at end
want vs omdat

Both mean 'because' but trigger opposite word order.

💬 Examples
...want ik heb tijd.
...because I have time.
📝 want: heb stays in 2nd place
...omdat ik tijd heb.
...because I have time.
📝 omdat: heb moves to the end