Conjunctions and Their Usage in Dutch

In this guide, you will learn about coordinating and subordinating conjunctions in Dutch. Conjunctions are essential for connecting words, phrases, and clauses to form more complex sentences and express complex thoughts. Let's dive in!

Coordinating Conjunctions

Coordinating conjunctions are used to join words, phrases, or independent clauses of equal importance. They are easy to learn and can greatly enhance the clarity and flow of your sentences.

Here are the most common coordinating conjunctions in Dutch:

1. En - And
2. Maar - But
3. Of - Or
4. Want - For
5. Dus - So
6. Ofwel - Or else
7. Noch - Nor
8. Ten slotte - Finally

Examples:

• Ik drink koffie en ik eet een broodje. - I drink coffee and I eat a sandwich.
• De zon schijnt, maar het regent ook. - The sun is shining, but it's also raining.
• Ga je naar de winkel of blijf je hier? - Are you going to the store or staying here?
• Hij wil winnen, want hij is een competitiesporter. - He wants to win, for he is a competitive athlete.
• Ik heb honger. Dus ga ik iets eten. - I'm hungry. So I'm going to eat something.
• Je kunt nu betalen, ofwel morgen. - You can pay now or tomorrow.
• Hij houdt niet van appels, noch van peren. - He doesn't like apples nor pears.
• Ik heb mijn werk afgerond. Ten slotte kan ik ontspannen. - I have finished my work. Finally, I can relax.

Remember to use a comma before the coordinating conjunction when joining independent clauses.

Subordinating Conjunctions

Subordinating conjunctions are used to introduce dependent clauses, which cannot stand alone as complete sentences. These conjunctions help establish relationships between the main clause and the dependent clause.

Here are some common subordinating conjunctions in Dutch:

1. Als - If, when
2. Omdat - Because
3. Hoewel - Although
4. Wanneer - When
5. Terwijl - While
6. Totdat - Until
7. Voordat - Before
8. Nadat - After
9. Zodra - As soon as
10. Ofschoon - Although
11. Sinds - Since
12. Tenzij - Unless

Examples:

• Als het regent, blijf ik binnen. - If it rains, I'll stay inside.
• Ze heeft gewonnen omdat ze hard heeft getraind. - She won because she trained hard.
• Hoewel het koud is, ga ik naar buiten. - Although it's cold, I'm going outside.
• Ik ben blij wanneer de zon schijnt. - I am happy when the sun shines.
• Ik lees een boek terwijl ik in de trein zit. - I'm reading a book while I'm on the train.
• Ze werkt tot laat totdat al het werk af is. - She works late until all the work is done.
• Ik help je voordat ik naar bed ga. - I'll help you before I go to bed.
• Nadat ik gegeten heb, ga ik wandelen. - After I eat, I'll go for a walk.
• Zodra de les begint, moeten we stil zijn. - As soon as the class starts, we must be quiet.
• We gaan zwemmen ofschoon het water koud is. - We go swimming although the water is cold.
• Ik woon hier sinds vorig jaar. - I have been living here since last year.
• Je mag niet naar binnen tenzij je een ticket hebt. - You can't go inside unless you have a ticket.

Remember to use a comma when the dependent clause comes before the main clause, but not when the main clause comes before the dependent clause.

Conclusion

Coordinating and subordinating conjunctions are powerful tools for constructing more sophisticated sentences and expressing complex thoughts in Dutch. By using them correctly, you can enhance the clarity, coherence, and overall impact of your writing and speaking.

Practice using coordinating and subordinating conjunctions in different contexts to become more comfortable with their usage. Observing how native Dutch speakers use conjunctions in everyday conversations and texts will also help you refine your skills.

Keep learning and exploring the Dutch language, and soon you'll be seamlessly incorporating these conjunctions into your Dutch expressions!