---
title: "When the subordinate clause comes first"
level: B1
chapter: "Word order"
canonical: https://www.dutchfluency.com/grammar/subclause-first
updated: 2026-10-09
author: Dutch Fluency
license: CC BY-SA 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)
---

# When the subordinate clause comes first

When a sentence opens with a subordinate clause starting with a word like _als_, _omdat_ or _toen_, that whole clause counts as position one. (A subordinate clause is a part of a sentence that can't stand on its own.) The main clause then goes on with its verb, and the subject comes after it: _Als het regent, blijf ik thuis._ In most sentences this means two verbs meet at the comma.

## The pattern

> A subordinate clause at the start of a sentence fills position one, so the main clause usually continues with its conjugated verb (the verb that changes with the person), followed by the subject.

- The subordinate clause comes first, usually with its verb as the last word: _Als het regent_. See Subordinate clauses.
- A comma separates the two clauses.
- The conjugated verb of the main clause comes next, then the subject: _blijf ik thuis_.
- Other verbs in the main clause, like a past participle, still go to the end: _Omdat de trein uitviel, ben ik te laat gekomen._
- When _je_ or _jij_ follows a present tense verb, the ending -t drops: _zie je_, not _ziet je_. See [Werk jij?](https://www.dutchfluency.com/grammar/jij-inversion)

## Examples

| Als het **regent, blijf ik** thuis. | If it rains, I stay at home. |
| Omdat de trein **uitviel, kwam ik** te laat. | Because the train was cancelled, I was late. |
| Toen Sanne op het station **aankwam, was haar trein** al weg. | When Sanne got to the station, her train had already left. |
| Als je bij de bibliotheek links **afslaat, zie je** het gemeentehuis. | If you turn left at the library, you'll see the town hall. |
| Omdat Daan griep **had, heeft hij** de huisarts gebeld. | Because Daan had the flu, he called the GP. |
| Voordat Joris naar zijn werk **fietst, drinkt hij** een kop koffie. | Before Joris cycles to work, he has a cup of coffee. |
| Omdat Mei vandaag jarig **is, neemt ze** taart mee naar kantoor. | Because it's Mei's birthday today, she's taking cake to the office. |
| Terwijl Ahmed op de bus **wachtte, belde zijn moeder**. | While Ahmed was waiting for the bus, his mother called. |

## Why it works this way

Starting with the subordinate clause sets the scene. You give the condition, the reason or the time first, and then say what happens. _Omdat de trein uitviel, kwam ik te laat_ explains the problem before your manager has even looked at the clock.

The order comes from [verb second](https://www.dutchfluency.com/grammar/verb-second): a Dutch main clause has one element in position one and the conjugated verb right after it. That element can be a single word, a phrase or a complete clause:

- _Morgen blijf ik thuis._
- _Bij slecht weer blijf ik thuis._
- _Als het regent, blijf ik thuis._

So shrink the clause in your head to one word such as _dan_, and the order is obvious: _Dan blijf ik thuis._ In speech you will even hear both together: _Als het regent, dan blijf ik thuis._ Here _dan_ repeats position one, and the verb still comes before the subject.

Put the subordinate clause at the end instead, and the main clause keeps its normal order: _Ik blijf thuis als het regent._

Remember: verb, comma, verb. In most sentences the subordinate clause ends with its verb, the main clause opens with its verb, and the two meet at the comma.

English and Spanish keep the subject first in both halves (if it rains, I stay home), which is why so many learners write _ik blijf_ after the comma. German works like Dutch here, so German speakers mostly have this already.

Two cases work differently. A _want_ clause can't come before the main clause at all, so use _omdat_ when you want to start with the reason ([Omdat or want](https://www.dutchfluency.com/grammar/omdat-or-want)). And after a clause with _ook_ in the sense of whatever or however, the main clause normally keeps its subject first: _Wat je ook zegt, ik ga niet naar dat feest._

## Watch out

- Not: _Als het regent, ik blijf thuis._ Say: _Als het regent, blijf ik thuis._ (the whole clause is position one, so the verb comes next)
- Not: _Omdat de trein viel uit, kwam ik te laat._ Say: _Omdat de trein uitviel, kwam ik te laat._ (in the subordinate clause the verb goes to the end, joined to its particle)
- Not: _Als je bus 12 neemt, bent je in tien minuten bij het ziekenhuis._ Say: _Als je bus 12 neemt, ben je in tien minuten bij het ziekenhuis._ (when _je_ follows the verb, the -t drops)
- Not: _Want ik was ziek, ik bleef thuis._ Say: _Omdat ik ziek was, bleef ik thuis._ (a _want_ clause cannot open the sentence)

## Quick check

1. Choose _Omdat_ or _Want_: _... de supermarkt al dicht was, kocht Priya brood bij het station._
2. Choose _hij moest_ or _moest hij_: _Omdat Bas zijn sleutels niet bij zich had, ... bij de buren aanbellen._
3. Fix the sentence: _Toen Lotte thuiskwam, ze zag dat haar fiets weg was._
4. Fill in the right form of _hebben_: _Als je in de winter fietst, ... je handschoenen nodig._

## Answers

1. _Omdat_: a _want_ clause can't come first, and _want_ doesn't send the verb to the end.
2. _moest hij_: the _omdat_ clause is position one, so the verb comes next.
3. _Toen Lotte thuiskwam, zag ze dat haar fiets weg was._ The verb comes straight after the comma.
4. _heb_: _je_ follows the verb, so the -t drops.

## Use it today

Write three sentences about your own day that start with _toen_, _omdat_ and _als_: one about your commute, one about the weather and one about the supermarket. Read them aloud and check that the verb comes straight after each comma.

## Questions learners ask

**Why is it "als het regent, blijf ik thuis" and not "ik blijf thuis"?**

The whole als clause counts as the first position of the sentence, and a Dutch main clause puts its conjugated verb in second position. So after the comma the verb comes first and the subject follows it.

**Do you need a comma after a subordinate clause at the start of a Dutch sentence?**

In standard written Dutch, yes: a comma normally separates a fronted subordinate clause from the main clause. It is especially helpful when two verbs meet, as in Omdat de trein uitviel, kwam ik te laat.

**Can a sentence start with a want clause in Dutch?**

Not before the main clause it explains: Want ik was ziek, ik bleef thuis is wrong. If you want to give the reason first, use omdat and put the verb after the comma: Omdat ik ziek was, bleef ik thuis.

From the Dutch Fluency Grammar: https://www.dutchfluency.com/grammar. Shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.