To say "although", use _hoewel_ or its formal twin _ofschoon_: both send the verb to the end, and when they open the sentence, the next part starts with a verb (_Hoewel het regende, gingen we fietsen._). _Ook al_ ("even though") is followed directly by the verb, and _zelfs als_ ("even if") works exactly like _als_.
The pattern
_Hoewel_, _ofschoon_ and _zelfs als_ start a subordinate clause (a part of the sentence that cannot stand on its own), so the verbs go to the end. _Ook al_ is the odd one out: the conjugated verb (the one that matches the subject) comes straight after it.
- _hoewel_ + subject + verb at the end: _hoewel het regende_. If this clause comes first, the main clause (the part that could stand alone) starts with its verb: _Hoewel het regende, gingen we fietsen._
- _ofschoon_ works the same way but is formal: think letters from the _gemeente_ and news reports.
- _ook al_ + verb + subject: _ook al regent het_. If this clause comes first, the main clause can keep its normal order: _Ook al regent het, we gaan fietsen._ Inversion (verb before subject) is also correct: _Ook al regent het, gaan we fietsen._
- _zelfs als_ + subject + verb at the end, just like _als_: _Zelfs als het regent, gaan we fietsen._ _Ook als_ means the same and behaves the same.
- If the main clause comes first, nothing changes in it: _We gaan fietsen, hoewel het regent._
What about meaning? _Hoewel_ admits a fact and says it changes nothing. _Ook al_ does the same with a bit more force, and it can also be about something imagined: _Ook al zou je me betalen, ik doe het niet._ _Zelfs als_ is for a possibility ("even if") or for something that happens now and then ("even when").
Examples
| Daan ging naar zijn werk, hoewel hij koorts had. | Daan went to work, although he had a fever. |
|---|---|
| Hoewel Sanne al tien jaar in Utrecht woont, spreekt ze nog steeds Engels met haar buren. | Although Sanne has lived in Utrecht for ten years, she still speaks English with her neighbours. |
| Ofschoon de gemeente de klacht in mei heeft ontvangen, is er nog niets gebeurd. | Although the municipality received the complaint in May, nothing has happened yet. |
| Ook al regent het, we gaan gewoon fietsen. | Even though it's raining, we're going cycling anyway. |
| Ook al heeft de trein vertraging, Fatima is nog op tijd voor haar afspraak. | Even though the train is delayed, Fatima is still on time for her appointment. |
| Ik ga niet naar dat feest, ook al vraagt Joris het nog zo lief. | I'm not going to that party, however nicely Joris asks. |
| Zelfs als het morgen sneeuwt, gaat de markt gewoon door. | Even if it snows tomorrow, the market will go ahead as usual. |
| Priya neemt altijd een paraplu mee, zelfs als de zon schijnt. | Priya always takes an umbrella, even when the sun is shining. |
Why it works this way
A Dutch main clause has its conjugated verb in second place (see [Verb second](#/lesson/verb-second)). A _hoewel_ or _zelfs als_ clause is one big building block. When it opens the sentence, it fills place one, so the verb of the main clause follows right after the comma, just as it does after _omdat_ or _als_ (see [When the subordinate clause comes first](#/lesson/subclause-first)).
An _ook al_ clause is built differently. It starts with its verb, like a yes or no question, and it hangs loosely in front of the sentence, more like a remark than a building block. It does not have to take place one, so the main clause can start fresh with its subject. Count it as place one anyway and you get the inverted version, which is also fine.
Remember: _hoewel_ walks in and takes the first seat, so the verb sits down right next to it. _Ook al_ stays on the doorstep, so the main clause can start from the beginning.
Watch out
- Not: _Hoewel het regende, we gingen fietsen._ Say: _Hoewel het regende, gingen we fietsen._ (English order; after a _hoewel_ clause, the main clause starts with its verb)
- Not: _Hoewel ik ben moe, ga ik mee._ Say: _Hoewel ik moe ben, ga ik mee._ (_hoewel_ sends the verb to the end)
- Not: _Ook al het regent, we gaan fietsen._ Say: _Ook al regent het, we gaan fietsen._ (the verb comes straight after _ook al_)
- Not: _Hoewel het duur was, maar we kochten het._ Say: _Hoewel het duur was, kochten we het toch._ (_hoewel_ already carries the contrast, so no _maar_; a typical slip for Arabic speakers)
Quick check
- Choose: _Hoewel Ahmed al twee keer had gebeld, ... niet._ (_de gemeente reageerde_ or _reageerde de gemeente_)
- Choose: _Ook al ... te laat, Emma haalt haar trein nog._ (_de bus is_ or _is de bus_)
- Fill in the right form of _doorwerken_: _Zelfs als Carlos de hele nacht ..., krijgt hij het rapport niet af._
- Fix the sentence: _Hoewel regent het, gaat de wedstrijd gewoon door._
Answers
- _reageerde de gemeente_ (the _hoewel_ clause fills place one, so the verb follows)
- _is de bus_ (after _ook al_, the verb comes first)
- _doorwerkt_ (like _als_, _zelfs als_ sends the verb to the end, where a separable verb stays in one piece)
- _Hoewel het regent, gaat de wedstrijd gewoon door._ (after _hoewel_, the subject comes first and the verb goes to the end)
Use it today
Next time something annoying does not stop you (a delayed train, rain on your way to work, a long queue at the supermarket), say it in Dutch twice: once with _hoewel_ and once with _ook al_. Check that the verb is at the end after _hoewel_ and right behind _ook al_.