Sentence structure - Zinsstructuur of woordvolgorde

Introduction

Sentence structure has to do with the order of >>constituents in a sentence. We can look at this in two ways: (a) the formal grammar of the sentence, its syntax, and (b) the information presented in the sentence, its pragmatics. Often these two aspects of sentence structure work together.

Syntax

We can distinguish between main clauses and subordinate clauses. The order of constituents in main clauses differs from that in subordinate clauses. The difference lies mainly in the position of the >>finite verb: it occurs towards the front in a main clause, but in a subordinate clause it occurs towards the back.

Main clause: Ik schrijf vandaag een brief aan mijn tante.

Subordinate clause: either: (Ik wil) dat je vandaag een brief aan je tante schrijft. or: (Ik wil) dat je vandaag een brief schrijft aan je tante.

Click for more information on the syntax of >main clauses, >subordinate clauses, or >complex sentences consisting of a main clause plus one or more subordinate clauses.

Pragmatics

The following two sentences describe the same state of affairs, the start of the holidays in two days’ time:

De vakantie begint over twee dagen.
Over twee dagen begint de vakantie.

However, they are still different. In speech, the main accent of a Dutch clause comes at the end. The two sentences can therefore be considered as answers to different questions:

Wanneer begint de vakantie?

De vakantie begint over twee dágen.

Wat gebeurt er over twee dagen?

Over twee dagen begint de vakántie..

Click for more information on the >pragmatics of Dutch sentences.

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