The pattern
The verb is the second part of a Dutch statement. If something other than the subject comes first, the subject goes right after the verb.
- Subject first: Ik ga morgen naar Utrecht.
- Time word first: Morgen ga ik naar Utrecht.
- The first part can be a group of words, like op zaterdag or na het werk. The verb follows the whole group.
- When jij or je follows the verb, the ending -t drops: Vanavond kook jij. See Werk jij? Where the t disappears.
- En, maar, want, ja and nee do not count as a first part: Ja, ik kom.
Examples
| Ik werk vandaag thuis. | I'm working from home today. |
| Vandaag werk ik thuis. | Today I'm working from home. |
| Morgen ga ik naar Utrecht. | Tomorrow I'm going to Utrecht. |
| Om acht uur begint de les. | The lesson starts at eight o'clock. |
| Op zaterdag fietst Sanne naar de markt. | On Saturdays Sanne cycles to the market. |
| In de trein leest Daan een boek. | On the train Daan reads a book. |
| Vanochtend schijnt de zon. | This morning the sun is shining. |
| Bij de bakker koopt Fatima brood. | At the bakery Fatima buys bread. |
| Vanavond kook jij. | Tonight you're cooking. |
Why it works this way
English locks the subject in front of the verb. Dutch locks the verb in second place instead, as you saw in Verb second: the golden rule, and lets almost anything take first place. So when morgen takes the first seat, the subject has to move, and its new seat is right behind the verb. English has a small leftover of this: "Here comes the bus" works the same way.
Starting with a time word is not fancy or old-fashioned. Dutch speakers like to set the scene first, and a time word links one sentence to the next: Ik werk tot vijf uur. Daarna ga ik naar de sportschool. You will hear this all day, especially with words like vandaag, morgen and nu.
If you speak German, this is the rule you already know. If you speak Spanish or Arabic, keep the subject: Dutch cannot drop it after the verb.
Remember: the verb keeps seat two. If anything other than the subject takes seat one, the subject sits down right behind the verb.
Watch out
NotMorgen ik ga naar Utrecht.
SayMorgen ga ik naar Utrecht.
the verb stays second, so ik moves behind it
NotOp zaterdag Sanne fietst naar de markt.
SayOp zaterdag fietst Sanne naar de markt.
the verb comes right after the whole first part
NotVanavond kookt jij.
SayVanavond kook jij.
the ending -t drops when jij follows the verb
NotMorgen ga naar de markt.
SayMorgen ga ik naar de markt.
Dutch needs the subject, also after the verb
Quick check
- Choose: Vanmiddag ... boodschappen. (ik doe or doe ik)
- Fix the sentence and keep morgen at the start: Morgen Mei gaat naar de huisarts.
- Fill in the right form of fietsen: Op maandag ... jij naar je werk.
- Fix the sentence and keep op vrijdag at the start. It should mean "On Fridays I eat pizza": Op vrijdag eet pizza.
Show the answers
- doe ik: vanmiddag is first, so the verb comes next and ik follows.
- Morgen gaat Mei naar de huisarts. The verb stays second, so Mei moves behind it.
- fiets: jij follows the verb, so the ending -t drops.
- Op vrijdag eet ik pizza. Dutch needs the subject, right after the verb.
Use it today
Write three sentences about your week that start with vandaag, morgen and op zaterdag, for example about work, shopping or sport. Read them aloud and check that the verb comes second each time.