The pattern
The question word takes first place and the conjugated verb (the verb form that matches the subject, like woon or begint) takes second place. The subject (who or what does the action) usually follows right after the verb.
- Question words ask for information: wie (who), wat (what), waar (where), wanneer (when), hoe (how), waarom (why). See Question words.
- A phrase like hoe laat (what time) or welke bus (which bus) counts as one block in first place.
- When je or jij follows the verb, the verb drops its -t ending: jij woont, but Waar woon je? With u the -t stays: Waar woont u? More in Werk jij? Where the t disappears.
- If the question word is the subject itself, no other subject is needed: Wie heeft een pen?
- To ask about a thing with a preposition, most speakers start with waar and put the preposition at the end: Waar wacht je op? For a person, the preposition goes before wie: Op wie wacht je?
Examples
| Waar woon je? | Where do you live? |
| Wanneer begint de les? | When does the class start? |
| Hoe laat vertrekt de trein naar Utrecht? | What time does the train to Utrecht leave? |
| Wat eet Daan vanavond? | What is Daan eating tonight? |
| Waarom fietst Fatima vandaag niet? | Why isn't Fatima cycling today? |
| Hoeveel kost een brood? | How much is a loaf of bread? |
| Wie heeft een pen? | Who has a pen? |
| Waar wacht je op? | What are you waiting for? |
| Waar praten jullie over? | What are you talking about? |
| Waar kom je vandaan? | Where are you from? |
Why it works this way
Dutch keeps the conjugated verb in second place in a main clause (Verb second). In a statement, the subject often takes first place. In a question, the question word claims that spot, so the subject moves behind the verb. Compare:
- Je woont in Delft. (a statement)
- Woon je in Delft? (a yes or no question: the verb comes first)
- Waar woon je? (the question word first, the verb second)
English gets the verb forward with a helper: where do you live? Dutch has no helper here. The real verb moves itself, so do and does simply vanish in translation.
The split preposition will feel familiar, because English does it too: what are you looking at? The only change is that Dutch uses waar for the thing instead of wat. The joined form Waarop wacht je? is also correct, but it sounds more formal and turns up more in writing. More in Questions with a preposition.
Remember: first place is a single seat. Once the question word sits there, the subject queues behind the verb, just like in Morgen ga ik.
Watch out
FalschWanneer de les begint?
RichtigWanneer begint de les?
the verb comes right after the question word
FalschWaar woont je?
RichtigWaar woon je?
when je follows the verb, the -t disappears
FalschWat kijk je naar?
RichtigWaar kijk je naar?
with a preposition, use waar for things
FalschWie praat je met?
RichtigMet wie praat je?
for people, the preposition goes before wie
Quick check
- Fix the sentence: Hoe laat Mei vertrekt?
- Choose: Waar ... je? (werk or werkt)
- Lotte asks ... wacht je op? and Ahmed answers Op bus 12. Choose Wat or Waar.
- Fill in the gap. Joris asks Met ... praat je? and Emma answers Met Bas.
Antworten zeigen
- Hoe laat vertrekt Mei? (hoe laat is one block, then the verb, then the subject)
- werk (je comes after the verb, so the -t drops)
- Waar (a bus is a thing, and the question has a preposition)
- wie (Bas is a person, so the preposition stays with wie)
Use it today
Write down three questions for a neighbour or colleague, such as Waar kom je vandaan? and Hoe laat begin je morgen?, and ask one of them out loud today. Check that your verb comes right after the question word.