Al can be replaced by alhoewel, hoewel or ofschoon, but triggers a different word from (al)hoewel and ofschoon. The concessive clause introduced by al has the word order of a main clause: the finite verb (hebben in the examples below) is in second position.
Wij zijn geslaagd voor het examen, hoewel we weinig gestudeerd hebben. |
We have passed the exam, although we have not studied much. |
| Wij zijn geslaagd voor het examen, al hebben we weinig gestudeerd. |
If the concessive clause introduced by al follows the main clause, al also triggers a different word order. There is no inversion in the main clause (unlike a main clause following a concessive clause introduced by (al)hoewel and ofschoon) :
Hoewel het al 12 uur is, ben ik nog niet moe. |
Although it is already12 o'clock, I am not tired yet. |
Al is het al 12 uur, ik ben nog niet moe. |