---
title: "Voordat, nadat, terwijl, sinds, totdat, zodra"
level: B1
chapter: "Word order"
canonical: https://www.dutchfluency.com/grammar/time-conjunctions
updated: 2026-10-09
author: Dutch Fluency
license: CC BY-SA 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)
---

# Voordat, nadat, terwijl, sinds, totdat, zodra

_Voordat_, _nadat_, _terwijl_, _sinds_, _totdat_ and _zodra_ link two events in time: before, after, while, since, until and as soon as. Each one starts a subordinate clause (a side sentence that cannot stand on its own), so its verb moves to the end: _Ik bel je zodra ik thuis ben._ When that clause comes first, the main clause (the part that could stand alone) starts with its verb: _Zodra ik thuis ben, bel ik je._

## The pattern

> _Voordat_, _nadat_, _terwijl_, _sinds_, _totdat_ (or _tot_) and _zodra_ open a subordinate clause, so the verb of that clause goes to the end.

- _voordat_ (before), _nadat_ (after), _terwijl_ (while, or whereas), _sinds_ (since), _totdat_ or _tot_ (until), _zodra_ (as soon as)
- Main clause first: _We blijven binnen tot het droog is._
- Time clause first, main verb next: _Nadat we hadden gegeten, gingen we wandelen._ ([When the subordinate clause comes first](https://www.dutchfluency.com/grammar/subclause-first))
- With two verbs, both go to the end: _nadat ik had gegeten_ or _nadat ik gegeten had_.
- A separable verb such as _terugbellen_ joins up again: _zodra je terugbelt_.

## Examples

| Ik drink altijd koffie **voordat** ik op de fiets **stap**. | I always have coffee before I get on my bike. |
| **Nadat** Daan de rekening **had betaald**, gingen we naar huis. | After Daan had paid the bill, we went home. |
| **Nadat** je **hebt betaald**, krijg je een bevestiging per mail. | After you have paid, you get a confirmation by email. |
| **Terwijl** we op de trein **wachtten**, begon het te regenen. | While we were waiting for the train, it started to rain. |
| Sanne neemt elke dag de trein, **terwijl** Ahmed altijd **fietst**. | Sanne takes the train every day, whereas Ahmed always cycles. |
| **Sinds** we een hond **hebben**, wandelen we elke dag. | Since we've had a dog, we've been going for a walk every day. |
| We blijven binnen **totdat** het niet meer **regent**. | We're staying inside until it stops raining. |
| **Zodra** de huisarts **terugbelt**, laat ik het je weten. | As soon as the GP calls back, I'll let you know. |

## Why it works this way

Picture the time word as opening a box around one event. Everything about that event goes inside, and the verb closes the lid. When the box comes first, it fills the first place in the sentence, so the main verb follows straight after it.

Each word also has tense habits. _Nadat_ looks back at a finished action, so it usually comes with a form of _hebben_ or _zijn_: _had betaald_ (had paid) in a story about the past, _hebt betaald_ (have paid) about now or in general ([The past perfect](https://www.dutchfluency.com/grammar/past-perfect)). After _zodra_ and _totdat_, the present usually covers the future too.

_Sinds_ marks the starting point of a situation. When that situation is still going on, Dutch usually uses the present where English uses the present perfect: _Sinds we een hond hebben, wandelen we elke dag._ The _sinds_ clause can also name a single event in the past: _Sinds ik vorig jaar ben verhuisd, fiets ik naar mijn werk._ (Since I moved last year, I've been cycling to work.)

In standard Dutch, _sinds_ is about time only. When English "since" means because, Dutch uses _omdat_ ([Omdat or want](https://www.dutchfluency.com/grammar/omdat-or-want)).

In everyday Dutch, _voor_ often replaces _voordat_, and _tot_ is just as correct as _totdat_. _Nadat_ has no such shortcut: _na_ alone cannot open a clause, so keep it for phrases like _na het eten_ (after dinner).

Remember: the time word opens the box, and the verb closes it.

## Watch out

- Not: _Voordat ik ga naar huis, doe ik boodschappen._ Say: _Voordat ik naar huis ga, doe ik boodschappen._ (the verb goes to the end of the time clause)
- Not: _Zodra de trein vertrekt, ik bel je._ Say: _Zodra de trein vertrekt, bel ik je._ (the main clause starts with its verb)
- Not: _Na ik de mail had gelezen, belde ik de klant._ Say: _Nadat ik de mail had gelezen, belde ik de klant._ (_na_ alone cannot open a clause)
- Not: _Terwijl koken luister ik naar de radio._ Say: _Terwijl ik kook, luister ik naar de radio._ (after _terwijl_ you need a subject and a verb; without them, say _tijdens het koken_)
- Not: _Sinds het morgen een feestdag is, heb ik vrij._ Say: _Omdat het morgen een feestdag is, heb ik vrij._ (_sinds_ is about time, not reasons)

## Quick check

1. Fix the sentence: _Ik eet altijd een boterham voordat ik ga naar de sportschool._
2. Fix the sentence: _Zodra het droog is, wij gaan fietsen._
3. Choose _sinds_ or _totdat_: _Ik woon in Utrecht ... ik vorig jaar een nieuwe baan kreeg._
4. Choose _terwijl_ or _zodra_: _Lotte drinkt alleen thee, ... Carlos vijf koppen koffie per dag drinkt._

## Answers

1. _Ik eet altijd een boterham voordat ik naar de sportschool ga._ The verb _ga_ goes to the end.
2. _Zodra het droog is, gaan wij fietsen._ The time clause fills the first place, so the verb comes next.
3. _sinds_: the new job is the starting point and you still live there; with _totdat_, the present _woon_ would not fit.
4. _terwijl_: it shows a contrast, like whereas.

## Use it today

Tonight, write three sentences about your day with _voordat_, _nadat_ and _zodra_, for example _Nadat ik had gegeten, belde ik mijn zus._ Read them out loud and check that the verbs of each time clause stand at the end.

## Questions learners ask

**Does the verb go to the end after voordat and nadat in Dutch?**

Yes. Voordat, nadat, terwijl, sinds, totdat and zodra start a subordinate clause, so the verb moves to the end, as in "voordat ik naar huis ga". If that clause starts the sentence, the main clause begins with its verb: "Voordat ik naar huis ga, doe ik boodschappen."

**Do you need the past perfect after nadat in Dutch?**

Usually, yes. Because nadat looks back at a finished action, Dutch uses the past perfect in a story about the past ("Nadat ik had gegeten, ging ik weg") and the present perfect for now or in general ("Nadat je hebt betaald, krijg je een bon").

**Can sinds mean because in Dutch?**

Not in standard Dutch: sinds is about time, as in "Sinds ik hier woon, fiets ik elke dag." To give a reason, use omdat: "Omdat het regent, blijf ik thuis."

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