_En_ (and), _maar_ (but), _of_ (or), _want_ (because) and _dus_ (so) link two complete sentences without changing their word order: _Ik ben moe, want ik heb slecht geslapen._ The second sentence carries on as if it stood on its own, usually with the subject first and the verb second. _Dus_ is the flexible one: the verb can also come straight after it.
The pattern
_En_, _maar_, _of_ and _want_ connect two main clauses (sentences that could stand on their own) without changing the word order of either one. _Dus_ can do the same, or it can pull the verb forward.
- The grammar term is coordinating conjunctions: words that link two equal parts.
- The linking word does not take a position. What follows is a normal sentence with the verb in second place: _maar ik heb_, _want het regent_.
- If something other than the subject comes next, such as _dan_ or _morgen_, it takes first place and the verb follows it: _en dan ga ik_.
- After _en_, _maar_ and _of_ you can drop a repeated subject (the person doing the action) when the second sentence would start with it: _Ik sta op en ga naar mijn werk._
- After _want_ you cannot drop just the repeated subject, and in sentences like the ones in this lesson you keep it after _dus_ too: _want ik ben moe_, _dus ik ga naar huis_.
- After _dus_ you choose: _dus ik ga_ or _dus ga ik_.
Examples
| Ik ben moe, want ik heb slecht geslapen. | I'm tired, because I slept badly. |
|---|---|
| Fatima werkt bij de gemeente en haar man is huisarts. | Fatima works for the municipality and her husband is a GP. |
| Ik wil graag komen, maar ik heb vanavond geen tijd. | I'd love to come, but I don't have time tonight. |
| Ik bel je vanavond of ik stuur je een berichtje. | I'll call you tonight or I'll send you a message. |
| Het regent, dus ik neem de bus. | It's raining, so I'm taking the bus. |
| Het regent, dus neem ik de bus. | It's raining, so I'm taking the bus. |
| Daan staat om zeven uur op en fietst naar zijn werk. | Daan gets up at seven and cycles to work. |
| Priya is verkouden maar gaat toch naar de verjaardag van Joris. | Priya has a cold but is still going to Joris's birthday. |
| Ahmed is naar de supermarkt gegaan en heeft melk gekocht. | Ahmed went to the supermarket and bought milk. |
Why it works this way
Picture a Dutch train: two carriages with a coupling between them. _En_, _maar_, _of_ and _want_ are the coupling. They connect the carriages, but they never take a seat, so each carriage keeps its own seating plan. The second sentence starts fresh and follows the usual [verb second](#/lesson/verb-second) rule.
_Dus_ is a coupling that sometimes slips into the first seat. When it does, it behaves like _daarom_ (that's why), one of the [linking words that invert](#/lesson/linking-adverbs), and the verb sits right next to it: _dus neem ik de bus_. When it stays a coupling, you get normal order: _dus ik neem de bus_. Both are correct. In speech you hear _dus ik_ constantly; in writing you will see both. _Dus_ can even sit inside the sentence: _Ik neem dus de bus._
If you speak English, _want_ feels easy, because English because doesn't change the order either. Mind the meaning, though: _want_ has nothing to do with wanting. For that you need _willen_: _Ik wil koffie._ The trickier word is _omdat_, which also means because but sends the verb to the end, as you will see in [Omdat or want](#/lesson/omdat-or-want). _Of_ has a second job too: in _Ik weet niet of hij komt_ it means whether, and then the verb goes to the end.
Remember: _en_, _maar_, _of_ and _want_ are couplings, never passengers. _Dus_ can be either.
Watch out
- Not: _Ik ben moe, want heb ik slecht geslapen._ Say: _Ik ben moe, want ik heb slecht geslapen._ (_want_ takes no position, so there is no inversion)
- Not: _Ik blijf thuis, want ik ziek ben._ Say: _Ik blijf thuis, want ik ben ziek._ (that is _omdat_ order; after _want_ the verb stays second)
- Not: _Daan blijft thuis, want is ziek._ Say: _Daan blijft thuis, want hij is ziek._ (after _want_ you cannot leave out just the repeated subject)
- Not: _Ik eet eerst en dan ik ga naar bed._ Say: _Ik eet eerst en dan ga ik naar bed._ (_dan_ takes first place, so the verb follows it)
Quick check
- Fix the sentence: _Ik ga vroeg naar bed, want ben moe._
- Fill in _want_, _maar_ or _dus_: _Bas wil graag naar het feest, ... hij moet werken._
- Fix the sentence: _We eten eerst en dan we gaan naar de film._
- Choose: _Ik heb de trein gemist, ..._ (a) _dus ik kom te laat_ (b) _dus kom ik te laat_ (c) both are correct
Answers
- _Ik ga vroeg naar bed, want ik ben moe._ (after _want_ you cannot leave out just the subject)
- _maar_ (the second part is a contrast)
- _We eten eerst en dan gaan we naar de film._ (_dan_ takes first place, so the verb comes next)
- (c) (after _dus_ both orders are correct)
Use it today
Send a friend or colleague a short message in Dutch about your weekend plans, with one sentence using _want_, one using _maar_ and one using _dus_. For example: _Zaterdag ga ik naar de markt, want ik heb geen groente meer._