Words like _al_ (already), _nog_ (still), _graag_ (gladly, with pleasure), _vaak_ (often) and _ook_ (also, too) sit in the middle of a Dutch sentence. In a main clause that starts with the subject, they come after the conjugated verb (the verb form that matches the subject, like _fiets_ or _heb_), not in front of it as in English "I often cycle". If there is a short pronoun such as _het_ or _hem_, the pronoun goes first: _Ik heb het al gedaan_, _Ik zie hem vaak_.
The pattern
In a main clause, _al_, _nog_, _graag_, _vaak_ and _ook_ normally go in the middle field: after the conjugated verb, after a short pronoun object, and before any verbs at the end.
- The middle field (the part between the conjugated verb and the end of the clause, or the final verbs such as _gedaan_) is where these words usually live.
- Short unstressed pronouns (_het_, _hem_, _ze_, _me_, _je_) come before them: _Ik zie hem vaak._
- If something else comes first, the subject follows the verb and usually stands before these words: _Vandaag werkt Joris ook thuis._ The adverb itself can also come first for emphasis: _Vaak fiets ik naar mijn werk._
- In simple sentences that start with the subject, _graag_ follows the verb directly: _Ik fiets graag._ A short pronoun still goes in front of it: _Ik doe het graag._
- _Ook_ and _al_ usually come early, before new information such as _een kaartje_ or _naar huis_. When two of these words meet, _ook_ usually goes first: _Lotte is ook al jarig geweest._
- In a subordinate clause the order stays the same, but the conjugated verb moves to the end: _Ik weet dat je hem vaak ziet._
- Next to _niet_, you say _nog niet_ and _ook niet_, while _niet graag_ means you don't enjoy something: _Ik fiets niet graag._ More in [Where does niet go?](#/lesson/niet-position)
Examples
| Ik fiets graag naar mijn werk. | I like cycling to work. |
|---|---|
| Ik heb het al gekocht. | I've already bought it. |
| Ik heb al een kaartje gekocht. | I've already bought a ticket. |
| Daan ziet hem vaak in de supermarkt. | Daan often sees him in the supermarket. |
| Daan zegt dat hij hem vaak ziet. | Daan says he often sees him. |
| We wachten nog op de trein naar Utrecht. | We're still waiting for the train to Utrecht. |
| Heb je de huisarts al gebeld? | Have you called the GP yet? |
| Morgen gaat Priya ook naar de gemeente. | Priya is going to the town hall tomorrow too. |
| Fatima drinkt ook graag thee. | Fatima likes drinking tea too. |
| Ik heb het ook al gehoord. | I've already heard it too. |
Why it works this way
English lets an adverb slip in between the subject and the verb: "I often cycle", "she already knows". Dutch keeps the conjugated verb in second place in a main clause (see [verb second](#/lesson/verb-second)). When the subject comes first, these adverbs normally follow the verb: _Ik fiets vaak._ An adverb can also take first place itself, and then the subject moves behind the verb: _Vaak fiets ik naar mijn werk._ What Dutch does not allow is an adverb squeezed between the subject and the verb, because then the verb would end up third. Speakers of English and Spanish tend to carry their own order over. German speakers have it easier, because German orders these words almost the same way. As a short reply, _Ik ook._ is perfectly fine: there is no verb to get in the way.
Inside the middle field, Dutch tends to put known information first and new information later, where the stress of the sentence usually falls. Short pronouns like _het_ and _hem_ refer to something already mentioned or obvious, so they move to the front. Full nouns follow the same tendency, though less strictly: _Heb je de huisarts al gebeld?_ (you both know which GP) but _Ik heb al een afspraak_ (new information).
Remember: think of the adverb as a fence. Old news stands in front of it, new news behind it, and a short pronoun is the oldest news there is.
For what these words mean in time expressions, see [Al, nog, pas, nog niet, niet meer](#/lesson/al-nog-pas).
Watch out
- Not: _Ik vaak fiets naar mijn werk._ Say: _Ik fiets vaak naar mijn werk._ (after the subject comes the conjugated verb, so the adverb follows it)
- Not: _Ik ga naar het feest ook._ Say: _Ik ga ook naar het feest._ (_ook_ goes before _naar het feest_, not at the end like English "too")
- Not: _Ik heb al het betaald._ Say: _Ik heb het al betaald._ (a short pronoun goes before the adverb)
- Not: _Ik neem de fiets omdat ik fiets graag._ Say: _Ik neem de fiets omdat ik graag fiets._ (in a subordinate clause the verb goes to the end, after _graag_)
Quick check
- Put _het_ and _al_ in the right order: _Het nieuwe rooster? Heb je ... gelezen?_
- Fix the sentence without changing the first word: _Ik ook werk bij de gemeente._
- Choose _graag kookt_ or _kookt graag_: _Bas zegt dat hij ... en vaak mensen uitnodigt._
- Choose _vaak ze_ or _ze vaak_: _De buren? Ik zie ... in het park._
Answers
- _het al_: _Heb je het al gelezen?_ The short pronoun goes before the adverb.
- _Ik werk ook bij de gemeente._ The verb stays second and _ook_ follows it.
- _graag kookt_: in a _dat_ clause the verb goes to the end, and _graag_ stays in front of it.
- _ze vaak_: _ze_ is a short pronoun, so it comes before _vaak_.
Use it today
On your way home, say three true sentences out loud: something you like doing (_Ik ... graag ..._), something you have already done today (_Ik heb ... al ..._) and someone you often see (_Ik zie ... vaak_). Then replace the person or thing with _hem_, _haar_ or _het_ and check that the pronoun moves in front of the adverb.