Sentence structure - Zinsstructuur of woordvolgorde

Order of verbal clusters

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There can be more than one verb in the >verbal cluster in subordinate clauses and the >second verbal bracket in main clauses. There are some rules for the order in such cluster.

If the cluster consists of an auxiliary for the perfect tense or the passive (i.e. forms of hebben or zijn) plus a past participle, the order is free.

... dat Barack Obama heeft gewonnen.
... dat Barack Obama gewonnen heeft.
Vóór de training moet je hebben gegeten.
Vóór de training moet je gegeten hebben.

If the cluster consists of a modal verb plus an infinitive, the modal verb usually precedes the infinitive.

(Iedereen had voorspeld) dat Barack Obama zou winnen.
Everyone had predicted that Barack Obama would win.
Als student Nederlands moet je woordjes kunnen leren.
As a student of Dutch you must be able to learn words.

If the cluster consists of a modal verb plus more infinitives, the >>main verb comes last. The order of the (modal) auxiliaries depends on the intended meaning. The two sentences below have different meanings (and the second one is a bit strange):

Als student Nederlands zou je woordjes moeten kunnen leren.
As a student of Dutch you should be able to learn words.
Als student Nederlands zou je woordjes kunnen moeten leren.
As a student of Dutch you might have to learn words.

If the cluster consists of a past participle and two auxiliaries, there are three possible variations in their order:

Je weet dat je voor de training gegeten moet hebben.

Je weet dat je voor de training moet hebben gegeten.

Je weet dat je voor de training moet gegeten hebben.


Note: the first variation is typical of standard spoken Dutch in the Netherlands, the third variation of standard spoken Dutch in Belgium. The second variation is more typical of a written style.


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