B1 Dutch GrammarAdverbs & Adverb Position
Master Dutch adverbs and their correct placement in sentences. Learn how adverbs of time, manner, place, and frequency interact with Dutch word order rules.
1Types of Dutch Adverbs
Dutch adverbs modify verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs. Unlike English, many Dutch adjectives can be used as adverbs without any change in form. The main categories include time (wanneer), manner (hoe), place (waar), and frequency (hoe vaak).
Adverb Categories
| Type | Dutch | English | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Time | nu, vandaag, morgen | now, today, tomorrow | Ik kom morgen. |
| Manner | snel, langzaam, goed | fast, slowly, well | Hij werkt hard. |
| Place | hier, daar, overal | here, there, everywhere | Zij woont hier. |
| Frequency | altijd, vaak, nooit | always, often, never | Ik kom vaak. |
Examples
Hij rijdt snel.
He drives fast.
snel = adjective used as adverb
Ze zingt mooi.
She sings beautifully.
no -ly suffix needed in Dutch
Ik ga vaak naar de bioscoop.
I often go to the cinema.
'vaak' = frequency adverb
Hij is heel aardig.
He is very nice.
'heel' modifies adjective 'aardig'
2Basic Adverb Position
In Dutch main clauses, adverbs typically come after the conjugated verb. Time adverbs often come early in the sentence or after the verb. The general order is: time - manner - place (TMP). However, Dutch allows flexibility for emphasis.
Adverb Position Rules
| Position | Pattern | Example |
|---|---|---|
| After verb | Subject + Verb + Adverb | Ik werk hard. |
| Time first | Time + Verb + Subject | Morgen ga ik. |
| TMP order | Time + Manner + Place | Ik ga morgen snel naar huis. |
| For emphasis | Adverb first | Vaak ga ik naar de markt. |
Examples
Ik ga morgen naar Amsterdam.
I'm going to Amsterdam tomorrow.
time (morgen) + place (Amsterdam)
Morgen ga ik naar Amsterdam.
Tomorrow I'm going to Amsterdam.
time first = verb-second rule applies
Hij spreekt goed Nederlands.
He speaks Dutch well.
manner adverb before object
Ze werkt altijd hard.
She always works hard.
frequency + manner adverbs
3Adverb Position in Subordinate Clauses
In subordinate clauses, adverbs come between the subject and the verb (which is at the end). This is different from main clauses. Multiple adverbs still follow the time-manner-place order before the final verb.
Subordinate Clause Position
| Main Clause | Subordinate Clause |
|---|---|
| Ik werk vaak. | ...dat ik vaak werk. |
| Hij komt morgen. | ...dat hij morgen komt. |
| Ze zingt mooi. | ...dat ze mooi zingt. |
| Ik ga snel naar huis. | ...dat ik snel naar huis ga. |
Examples
Ik weet dat hij altijd laat komt.
I know that he always arrives late.
'altijd laat' before verb 'komt'
Ze zegt dat ze morgen niet kan komen.
She says that she can't come tomorrow.
'morgen niet' between subject and verb
Omdat hij goed Nederlands spreekt...
Because he speaks Dutch well...
'goed Nederlands' before 'spreekt'
Als je snel loopt, haal je de trein.
If you walk fast, you'll catch the train.
'snel' before 'loopt' in sub clause
4Special Adverbs and Their Position
Some adverbs have fixed positions in Dutch. 'Niet' (not) comes late in the clause. 'Er' (there) comes after the conjugated verb. Sentence adverbs like 'waarschijnlijk' (probably) often come at the start or after the verb.
Special Adverb Positions
| Adverb | Position | Example |
|---|---|---|
| niet | late in clause | Ik kom vandaag niet. |
| er | after verb | Er zijn veel mensen. |
| wel | after verb | Ik kom wel. |
| waarschijnlijk | start or after verb | Waarschijnlijk komt hij. |
Examples
Ik heb het boek niet gelezen.
I haven't read the book.
'niet' before participle
Er wonen veel mensen in Amsterdam.
Many people live in Amsterdam.
'er' starts existential sentences
Hij komt waarschijnlijk morgen.
He's probably coming tomorrow.
sentence adverb after verb
Ik ga wel mee.
I will come along (indeed).
'wel' for positive emphasis