Both _want_ and _omdat_ mean because. The difference is word order: after _want_ the sentence carries on as normal (_want ik heb honger_), while _omdat_ sends the verb to the end (_omdat ik honger heb_). Also, only _omdat_ lets you give the reason first.
The pattern
After _want_, use normal word order, as in an ordinary sentence. After _omdat_, the conjugated verb (the form that changes with the subject, like _heb_ or _is_) goes to the end of the _omdat_ part.
- _want_ + normal order: _want ik heb honger_. The verb is in second place, just as in _Ik heb honger_.
- _omdat_ + verb at the end: _omdat ik honger heb_. With two verbs, both go to the end: _omdat ik de trein heb gemist_.
- An _omdat_ clause (the part that starts with _omdat_) can come first: _Omdat ik honger heb, eet ik een appel._ The rest then starts with its verb (more in [When the subordinate clause comes first](#/lesson/subclause-first)). A _want_ clause never comes before the part it explains.
- In writing, a comma before _want_ is usual. Before _omdat_ it is optional.
Examples
| Ik eet een appel, want ik heb honger. | I'm eating an apple because I'm hungry. |
|---|---|
| Ik eet een appel omdat ik honger heb. | I'm eating an apple because I'm hungry. |
| Omdat ik honger heb, eet ik een appel. | Because I'm hungry, I'm eating an apple. |
| Ik doe vandaag de boodschappen, want morgen heb ik geen tijd. | I'm doing the shopping today because I don't have time tomorrow. |
| Daan gaat naar de huisarts, want hij is al een week ziek. | Daan is going to the GP because he has been ill for a week. |
| Fatima is te laat omdat ze de trein heeft gemist. | Fatima is late because she missed the train. |
| Ahmed belt de gemeente omdat hij een nieuw paspoort nodig heeft. | Ahmed is calling the municipality because he needs a new passport. |
| Omdat het regent, neemt Sanne de bus. | Because it's raining, Sanne is taking the bus. |
| Priya gaat vroeg slapen omdat ze om zes uur opstaat. | Priya goes to bed early because she gets up at six. |
Why it works this way
_Want_ is a linking word, like _en_ (and) and _maar_ (but): it joins two ordinary sentences and changes nothing (see [En, maar, of, want, dus](#/lesson/coordinating-conjunctions)). Take _want_ away and a complete sentence remains: _Ik heb honger._ _Want_ does not even take up a place, so after it you can start with _morgen_ and use inversion (verb before subject): _want morgen heb ik geen tijd_.
_Omdat_ starts a subordinate clause: a part of a sentence that cannot stand on its own. In those clauses Dutch puts the conjugated verb at the end ([Subordinate clauses: the verb goes to the end](#/lesson/subordinate-clauses)). The clause is a closed package, so you can move it to the front. _Want_ is a bridge from one sentence to the next, so it only works after the first one. You may see _Want_ begin a new sentence as an afterthought (_Ik ga niet mee. Want ik ben moe._), but the reason still comes second.
When the reason comes second, the two are usually interchangeable. One tendency: if the reason is evidence rather than a cause, speakers prefer _want_: _Joris is thuis, want zijn fiets staat voor de deur._ The bike is not why Joris is home; it is how you know. To answer _Waarom?_ with just the reason, the usual choice is _omdat_: _Omdat ik de bus heb gemist._ German speakers can map _want_ to "denn" and _omdat_ to "weil".
Remember: _omdat_ ends in _dat_, and just like in _Ik denk dat Sanne ziek is_, the verb waits until the end. _Want_ is a bridge: put it between two normal sentences and change nothing.
Watch out
- Not: _Ik blijf thuis omdat ik ben ziek._ Say: _Ik blijf thuis omdat ik ziek ben._ (_omdat_ sends the verb to the end)
- Not: _Ik eet niets, want ik geen honger heb._ Say: _Ik eet niets, want ik heb geen honger._ (_want_ keeps normal order)
- Not: _Want het regent, ik neem de bus._ Say: _Omdat het regent, neem ik de bus._ (a _want_ reason cannot come first)
- Not: _Omdat de winkel dicht is, wij gaan naar de markt._ Say: _Omdat de winkel dicht is, gaan wij naar de markt._ (after an _omdat_ clause, the verb comes right after the comma)
- Not: _Ik ben moe omdat ik sta om zes uur op._ Say: _Ik ben moe omdat ik om zes uur opsta._ (at the end, _opstaan_ is one word again)
Quick check
- Choose the right ending: _Ik bel de huisarts, want ik ..._ (_ben ziek_ or _ziek ben_)
- Fix the word order and keep _omdat_: _Lotte blijft thuis omdat ze is moe._
- Choose _want_ or _omdat_: _... het koud is, draagt Carlos een muts._
- Fill in the right form of _opstaan_: _Mei is moe omdat ze elke dag om zes uur ..._
Answers
- _ben ziek_ (after _want_ the order stays normal, with the verb in second place)
- _Lotte blijft thuis omdat ze moe is._ (_omdat_ sends _is_ to the end)
- _Omdat_ (the verb _is_ is at the end, and a _want_ clause cannot come first)
- _opstaat_ (at the end of an _omdat_ clause, _opstaan_ is one word again)
Use it today
Text a friend or colleague to move a plan, and give your reason twice: once with _want_ and once with _omdat_. For example: _Ik kom later, want de trein heeft vertraging._ and _Ik kom later omdat de trein vertraging heeft._