Basic Dutch Sentence Structure: Your First 10 Sentences Explained

Written By Olga Sylvia

Introduction

When you first start learning Dutch, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by the unfamiliar sounds, long compound words, and strange little particles that seem to pop up everywhere. Yet beneath all of that, Dutch has a surprisingly logical and straightforward sentence structure—once you learn the basic rules. Dutch, like English and German, is a Germanic language, which means that many of its core sentence-building principles are already familiar to English speakers. The challenge isn’t that Dutch grammar is wildly different, but rather that it follows its own set of patterns and word orders that don’t always line up with English expectations.

And here’s the good news: once you can build a handful of basic Dutch sentences with confidence, you suddenly unlock the ability to communicate a lot more than you might think. You don’t need a massive vocabulary or complex grammar charts to get started. What you need is a reliable foundation in word order, verbs, and how Dutch sentences are built from the ground up.

In this article, we’ll break down the first 10 sentences you need to know in Dutch, explaining how they are built, why the words fall into a certain order, and how you can adapt the patterns to say hundreds of other things. Along the way, you’ll get extra examples, cultural insights, and practice exercises.

By the end, you’ll not only understand the basics of Dutch sentence structure—you’ll also have the confidence to build your own sentences and take your first steps toward fluency.

📌 Dutch Vocabulary

  • zin = sentence

  • werkwoord = verb

  • onderwerp = subject

  • lijdend voorwerp = direct object

Why Sentence Structure Matters in Dutch

Before diving into examples, it’s worth asking: why does Dutch word order matter so much?

  • Consistency: Dutch speakers expect certain word orders. If you place words in the wrong spot, you may be understood, but it will sound unnatural.

  • Verb Placement: Unlike English, where the verb usually stays in one place, Dutch verbs move around. Sometimes they appear second in the sentence, sometimes at the end.

  • Clarity: Dutch is a language that values efficiency. Word order ensures meaning is clear right away.

Think of Dutch sentence structure like building with LEGO bricks. The pieces are simple, but you need to know how they connect. Once you do, you can build anything.

The First 10 Dutch Sentences You Should Learn

Each of the following sentences shows you one important building block of Dutch grammar.

1. Ik ben student.

Translation: I am a student.

This is the simplest Dutch sentence: subject + verb + complement.

  • Ik = I

  • ben = am (verb, from zijn, “to be”)

  • student = student

Rule: In a main clause, the verb always goes in the second position.

🔎 More Examples:

  • Ik ben moe. = I am tired.

  • Hij is dokter. = He is a doctor.

  • Zij is blij. = She is happy.

✍️ Practice:
Try changing the subject:

  • Wij zijn studenten. = We are students.

  • Jij bent student. = You are a student.

2. Jij hebt een fiets.

Translation: You have a bike.

Here we add possession and an object.

  • Jij = you

  • hebt = have

  • een fiets = a bicycle

Word order: subject + verb + object.

🔎 More Examples:

  • Ik heb een huis. = I have a house.

  • Zij heeft een hond. = She has a dog.

  • Wij hebben tijd. = We have time.

✍️ Practice:
Replace the object with something else:

  • Ik heb … → (een boek / een kat / een idee).

3. Wij wonen in Amsterdam.

Translation: We live in Amsterdam.

This introduces location.

  • Wij = we

  • wonen = live

  • in Amsterdam = in Amsterdam

🔎 More Examples:

  • Ik woon in Rotterdam. = I live in Rotterdam.

  • Zij woont in Den Haag. = She lives in The Hague.

  • Wij wonen in een klein dorp. = We live in a small village.

✍️ Practice:
Answer this question in Dutch:

  • Waar woon jij? (Where do you live?)

4. Vandaag ga ik naar school.

Translation: Today I go to school.

Here we see verb-second in action:

  • Vandaag = today (time element at the start)

  • ga = go (verb)

  • ik = I (subject)

  • naar school = to school

Rule: No matter what comes first, the verb must always stay second.

🔎 More Examples:

  • Morgen ga ik werken. = Tomorrow I will work.

  • Vanavond kook ik pasta. = This evening I cook pasta.

✍️ Practice:
Make sentences starting with time expressions:

  • Morgen …

  • Vanmiddag …

  • Elke dag …

5. Ik drink koffie in de ochtend.

Translation: I drink coffee in the morning.

Here we see the Dutch sentence rhythm: subject + verb + object + time + place.

🔎 More Examples:

  • Ik eet brood in de middag. = I eat bread in the afternoon.

  • Wij lezen boeken in de bibliotheek. = We read books in the library.

✍️ Practice:
Fill in the blanks:

  • Ik drink … in de avond.

  • Zij eet … op school.

6. Spreek jij Nederlands?

Translation: Do you speak Dutch?

Questions flip the order:

  • Verb first (Spreek)

  • Then subject (jij)

  • Then object (Nederlands)

🔎 More Examples:

  • Kom jij morgen? = Are you coming tomorrow?

  • Heb jij een pen? = Do you have a pen?

✍️ Practice:
Make your own yes/no questions:

  • … jij koffie?

  • … jij Engels?

7. Omdat ik moe ben, ga ik naar huis.

Translation: Because I am tired, I am going home.

This introduces subordinate clauses:

  • Omdat ik moe ben = Because I am tired

  • ga ik naar huis = I am going home

Rule: In subordinate clauses, the verb moves to the end (ben).

🔎 More Examples:

  • Omdat het regent, blijf ik thuis. = Because it rains, I stay home.

  • Als ik tijd heb, lees ik een boek. = If I have time, I read a book.

✍️ Practice:
Start a sentence with:

  • Omdat ik honger heb …

  • Als ik vrij ben …

8. Morgen zal ik studeren.

Translation: Tomorrow I will study.

Modal + infinitive:

  • zal = will (modal)

  • studeren = to study (main verb at end)

🔎 More Examples:

  • Ik moet werken. = I must work.

  • Wij kunnen Nederlands spreken. = We can speak Dutch.

✍️ Practice:
Use these modals: moet (must), kan (can), wil (want).

  • Ik … Nederlands leren.

9. Ik heb mijn huiswerk gedaan.

Translation: I have done my homework.

Perfect tense uses:

  • Auxiliary (heb) second

  • Past participle (gedaan) at the end

🔎 More Examples:

  • Ik heb koffie gedronken. = I have drunk coffee.

  • Zij heeft een brief geschreven. = She has written a letter.

✍️ Practice:
Try with these verbs: geleerd (learned), gekocht (bought), gelezen (read).

10. Hij zegt dat hij Nederlands leert.

Translation: He says that he is learning Dutch.

Reported speech with dat.

  • Hij zegt = He says

  • dat hij Nederlands leert = that he learns Dutch

Rule: After dat, the verb moves to the end.

🔎 More Examples:

  • Ik denk dat zij ziek is. = I think that she is sick.

  • Wij weten dat hij komt. = We know that he is coming.

✍️ Practice:
Make your own sentences:

  • Ik geloof dat …

  • Hij zegt dat …

Putting It All Together

With these 10 sentence types, you can build almost anything.

  • Ik drink water in de ochtend.

  • Morgen ga ik naar de markt.

  • Zij zegt dat ze thuis blijft.

These are the bricks. Once you know where the verb goes, everything else becomes predictable.

Common Mistakes Beginners Make

  1. Forgetting the verb-second rule.

  2. Misplacing time phrases.

  3. Forgetting to move verbs in subordinate clauses.

  4. Using English question order.

  5. Overloading sentences instead of keeping them simple.

Cultural Insight: Word Order and Dutch Mentality

The Dutch value clarity and structure. Their sentence order reflects this: the verb in second place signals the action immediately, while time and place stack neatly at the end. It mirrors Dutch culture itself—practical, orderly, and efficient.

FAQs

1. Is Dutch word order like German?
Similar, but simpler. Dutch drops many of the case complexities German has.

2. Do I always need to put the verb second?
Yes, in main clauses.

3. Can the subject come after the verb?
Yes, when the sentence starts with time/place.

4. Do all verbs go to the end in subordinate clauses?
Yes.

5. Is Dutch harder than English?
Not if you practice sentence patterns early.

6. Do Dutch people help learners?
Yes, they usually appreciate the effort.

Conclusion: Building Sentences, Building Confidence

Mastering Dutch sentence structure is less about memorizing endless rules and more about understanding patterns. With just 10 example sentences, you can already express hundreds of thoughts.

At Polyglottist Language Academy, we believe in teaching language through clarity and culture. Our Dutch classes give you the tools and confidence to start speaking from day one.

🌍 Ready to build your first Dutch sentences with confidence? Sign up today for our Dutch classes and start turning grammar into real communication.

And if you enjoyed this article, check out our other posts:

Olga Sylvia
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