--- title: "The order of verbs at the end" level: B2 chapter: "Word order" canonical: https://www.dutchfluency.com/grammar/end-verb-order updated: 2026-10-09 author: Dutch Fluency license: CC BY-SA 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) --- # The order of verbs at the end At the end of a subordinate clause (the part after _omdat_, _dat_, _of_ and similar words), the verbs form one block, and no object, _niet_ or time word goes between them. With a form of _hebben_ or _zijn_ plus a past participle (the form after _hebben_ and _zijn_, like _gezien_), both orders are correct: _omdat ik het heb gezien_ and _omdat ik het gezien heb_. With a modal verb (_moeten_, _kunnen_, _willen_ and friends), the conjugated verb (the one that matches the subject) usually comes first: _omdat ik morgen moet werken_, _omdat ik het niet heb kunnen doen_. ## The pattern > The verbs at the end of a subordinate clause stay together as one block. Inside it, the conjugated verb usually comes first, but a past participle may also stand at the front. - **Auxiliary plus participle: your choice.** _omdat ik het heb gezien_ or _omdat ik het gezien heb_. The same goes for _zijn_ and _worden_: _dat de trein is vertrokken_ or _dat de trein vertrokken is_. - **Modal plus infinitive (the dictionary form): modal first.** _omdat ik morgen moet werken_. The reverse, _werken moet_, exists and feels familiar to German speakers, but it is much less common. Don't make it your habit. - **Three or more verbs ending in an infinitive (with a modal, _laten_ or _gaan_): conjugated verb first, main verb last.** _omdat ik het niet heb kunnen doen_. The modal appears as an infinitive here (_kunnen_, not _gekund_), see [Verb clusters](https://www.dutchfluency.com/grammar/verb-clusters). - **Three verbs ending in a participle: the participle may jump to the front.** _dat de brug moet worden vervangen_ or _dat de brug vervangen moet worden_. - **No splitting.** Objects, _niet_, time words and other adverbs go before the block. Only _te_ and the first part of a separable verb can sit inside it, which is the topic of the [next lesson](https://www.dutchfluency.com/grammar/separable-in-subclauses). You need this block whenever you explain, apologise or pass on news: why you missed the train, what the GP said, what _de gemeente_ is planning. ## Examples | Sanne zegt dat ze de offerte al **heeft verstuurd**. | Sanne says she has already sent the quote. | | Sanne zegt dat ze de offerte al **verstuurd heeft**. | Sanne says she has already sent the quote. | | Ik kan vanavond niet, omdat ik morgen vroeg **moet werken**. | I can't make it tonight, because I have to work early tomorrow. | | Weet jij of Ahmed vrijdag ook **wil komen**? | Do you know if Ahmed wants to come on Friday too? | | Het spijt me dat ik niet op je verjaardag **heb kunnen komen**. | I'm sorry I couldn't come to your birthday. | | Fatima vertelde dat ze de huisarts de hele ochtend niet **had kunnen bereiken**. | Fatima said she hadn't been able to reach the GP all morning. | | De gemeente laat weten dat de brug volgend jaar **moet worden vervangen**. | The municipality says the bridge needs to be replaced next year. | | De gemeente laat weten dat de brug volgend jaar **vervangen moet worden**. | The municipality says the bridge needs to be replaced next year. | | Ik denk dat Joris dat best **zou moeten kunnen regelen**. | I think Joris should be able to sort that out. | ## Why it works this way Each verb in the block is the boss of the next one. _Heb_ sets the time, _kunnen_ adds ability, and _doen_ carries the actual action, so the block runs from boss to worker: _heb kunnen doen_. That happens to be the English order too: have been able to do, should be able to sort out, needs to be replaced. The past participle is the free spirit. It can behave like an adjective (_de winkel is gesloten_), and adjectives sit before the verb (_omdat de winkel dicht is_), so _gesloten is_ feels just as natural as _is gesloten_. English puts the participle after the auxiliary, German puts it before, and Dutch allows both. Many speakers switch between the two without noticing. Remember: the verbs at the end are a coupled train. Nobody climbs in between the carriages, and lining them up in English order (have been able to do: _heb kunnen doen_) is your safe default. ## Watch out - Not: _omdat ik heb het gezien_ Say: _omdat ik het heb gezien_ (the object comes before the whole block, not after the first verb as in English) - Not: _omdat ik het heb niet gezien_ Say: _omdat ik het niet heb gezien_ (_niet_ stands in front of the block) - Not: _omdat ik moet morgen werken_ Say: _omdat ik morgen moet werken_ (time words also go before the block) - Not: _omdat ik het niet kunnen doen heb_ Say: _omdat ik het niet heb kunnen doen_ (with a modal in a group of three, the conjugated verb leads) ## Quick check 1. Choose the correct sentence: (a) _Ik kom wat later, omdat ik moet nog boodschappen doen._ (b) _Ik kom wat later, omdat ik nog boodschappen moet doen._ 2. Put the verbs in the right order: _Priya appt dat ze de trein van acht uur niet ... (halen, heeft, kunnen)._ 3. Right or wrong? _Mei zegt dat ze de rekening al betaald heeft._ 4. Fix the sentence: _Ik vind het jammer dat Sanne heeft niet kunnen komen._ ## Answers 1. (b): _nog boodschappen_ goes before the block, and _moet doen_ stays together. 2. _heeft kunnen halen_: conjugated verb first, main verb last, and _kunnen_ as an infinitive. 3. Right: with _hebben_ plus a participle both orders work, so _al heeft betaald_ is equally good. 4. _Ik vind het jammer dat Sanne niet heeft kunnen komen._ (_niet_ goes in front of the block) ## Use it today Send a short message to a neighbour or colleague about something you could not do, using _omdat_ or _dat_ and a block of three verbs, for example _Sorry dat ik je pakketje gisteren niet heb kunnen aannemen._ Then say one sentence with _heb_ plus a participle out loud in both orders. ## Questions learners ask **Is it "omdat ik het heb gezien" or "omdat ik het gezien heb"?** Both are correct standard Dutch. With a form of hebben or zijn plus a past participle, either verb may come first, in speech and in writing. **What is the order of three verbs at the end of a Dutch sentence?** When the group ends in an infinitive, the conjugated verb comes first and the main verb last: "omdat ik het niet heb kunnen doen". The modal appears as an infinitive, so "kunnen" instead of "gekund". **Can I put niet or an object between the verbs at the end of a Dutch clause?** No. Objects, "niet" and time words like "morgen" go in front of the verb group: "omdat ik het niet heb gezien". Only "te" and the first part of a separable verb can appear inside the group. From the Dutch Fluency Grammar: https://www.dutchfluency.com/grammar. Shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.