We reizen morgen.
We travel tomorrow.
We is the subject; reizen is the finite verb for we.
Put the verb where the sentence needs it
Move beyond isolated word-order drills. Transform one travel statement into a time-first statement, a question and a reason clause.
What you will be able to do
Keep the finite verb in the right position when starting with a time phrase, asking a yes/no question or using omdat (because).
Lesson 1 of 2 in this Dutch path.
Before you start
Recognize ik (I), we (we), vandaag (today), morgen (tomorrow), reizen (travel) and werken (work). A subject tells you who does something. A finite verb is the form that changes with person or tense, such as werk in ik werk.
How to use this lesson
- Mark the subject and finite verb in each example.
- Follow the four transformations, treating a whole time phrase as one unit.
- Reorder the exercise sentences, check the explanations, then write a short travel plan of your own.
Learn the pattern
Second position means the second unit
In an ordinary Dutch main-clause statement, the finite verb follows the first sentence unit. Ik werk vandaag (I work today) starts with the subject. Vandaag werk ik starts with the time. The finite verb still occupies second position, and the subject now follows it. This reversal is called inversion.
Questions start differently
A yes/no question can begin with the finite verb: Werk ik vandaag? (Am I working today?). Do not count punctuation as part of word order. A question word occupies the first position in a question such as Wanneer werk ik? (When am I working?).
A reason clause changes the pattern
Omdat introduces a subordinate reason clause. With the single-verb examples here, its finite verb comes at the end: omdat ik vandaag werk (because I work today). The clause depends on a main clause. This lesson does not cover the different permitted orders of multi-verb groups.
Worked examples
Morgen reizen we.
Tomorrow we travel.
Morgen takes the first position; reizen stays second.
Volgende week reizen we.
Next week we travel.
Volgende week is a two-word time phrase occupying one sentence position.
We reizen morgen omdat ik vandaag werk.
We travel tomorrow because I work today.
The main clause retains reizen in second position. The omdat clause ends with werk.
Build it step by step
- Take Ik werk vandaag. Identify ik as the subject and werk as the finite verb.
- Move vandaag to the front: Vandaag werk ik. Do not leave ik between vandaag and werk.
- Ask whether you work today: Werk ik vandaag? The finite verb comes first in this yes/no question.
- Use the same idea as a reason: We reizen morgen omdat ik vandaag werk. After omdat, keep ik before the rest of its clause and put werk last.
Try it before looking
Write or say each answer first. Open the explanation to check the pattern, then close it and try again. These are self-checks; your answers are not stored by this page.
1. Start “We reizen morgen” with Morgen.
Show answer and explanation
Morgen reizen we.
Morgen occupies the first unit, reizen the second; the subject we follows the verb.
2. Order: volgende week / we / reizen.
Show answer and explanation
Volgende week reizen we.
Volgende week counts as one unit, even though it has two words. Second position does not mean the second word.
3. Turn “We reizen morgen” into a yes/no question.
Show answer and explanation
Reizen we morgen?
The finite verb reizen comes before the subject we.
4. Finish “We reizen morgen omdat…” using ik / werk / vandaag.
Show answer and explanation
We reizen morgen omdat ik vandaag werk.
Omdat introduces a subordinate clause. In this single-verb clause, werk follows vandaag.
Keep and use the result
Check the clause type before moving words: statement, question or subordinate reason clause. Treat phrases as units and locate the finite verb.
Write one plan beginning with Morgen and another with Volgende week. Turn each into a question. Add a reason with omdat ik vandaag werk. Keep your versions in your notes and revisit the existing grammar exercises if inversion still feels uncertain.
Sources and scope
Grammar references checked October 25, 2026. Teaching examples and exercises are original. This is a focused learning unit, with no recorded audio or human teaching review claimed.