Common linking adverbs: daarom, dus and toch trigger inversion
How common Dutch linking adverbs occupy the first sentence position and put the finite verb before the subject.
A linking adverb connects a new main clause to what came before: De lift is kapot. Daarom neem ik de trap. (The lift is broken. That is why I take the stairs.) Because daarom fills the first position of its clause, the finite verb neem comes before the subject ik.
How do you start with a linking adverb?
Put the linking adverb in position 1, then the finite verb, then the subject: linking adverb + verb + subject.
- Write the first idea as a complete sentence: De winkel is dicht. (The shop is closed.)
- Choose a common adverb that shows the link, such as daarom (that is why), toch (nevertheless) or anders (otherwise).
- Start the next main clause with that adverb and put the finite verb straight after it: Daarom kom ik morgen terug. (That is why I will come back tomorrow.)
This is the ordinary verb-second rule, not a new verb form. Starting with the adverb simply places the subject after the verb, the same inversion used after a time or place phrase.
When to use these common linking adverbs
| Adverb | Basic meaning | Example at the start |
|---|---|---|
| daarom | that is why; therefore | Het loket is al dicht. Daarom kom ik morgen terug. (The desk is already closed. That is why I will come back tomorrow.) |
| daardoor | because of that; as a result | De bus had vertraging. Daardoor kwam Amir te laat. (The bus was delayed. As a result, Amir arrived late.) |
| toch | nevertheless; still | Het waaide hard. Toch ging Lotte naar buiten. (It was very windy. Still, Lotte went outside.) |
| anders | otherwise | Vertrek nu. Anders mis je de trein. (Leave now. Otherwise, you will miss the train.) |
| daarna | after that; then | We drinken koffie. Daarna beginnen we. (We will have coffee. After that, we will start.) |
| dus | so; therefore | Het wordt laat. Dus ga ik naar huis. (It is getting late. So I am going home.) |
Can the adverb stand later in the clause?
Yes. A linking adverb is part of the clause and can occupy different positions. Compare Daarom neem ik de trein. and Ik neem daarom de trein. (That is why I take the train.) In the second version, ik already fills position 1, so the normal subject-verb order stays in place. The same works in Ze komt toch mee. (She is coming along after all.) and We eten daarna thuis. (After that, we will eat at home.)
Why does dus have two word orders?
dus can work as a linking adverb or as a coordinating conjunction. As an adverb in position 1, it gives inversion: De batterij is leeg. Dus laad ik hem op. (The battery is empty. So I will charge it.) As a conjunction outside the second clause, it leaves the subject first: De batterij is leeg, dus ik laad hem op. Both patterns are standard Dutch and mean the same thing here.
Mistakes to avoid
- Do not put the subject immediately after a fronted linking adverb: not Daarom ik neem de trap, but Daarom neem ik de trap.
- Do not send the verb to the end. These words begin or sit inside a main clause; they are not subordinating conjunctions: Daarom blijf ik thuis, not Daarom ik thuis blijf.
- Do not mark the subject-first dus pattern as wrong. Dus ga ik... uses dus as an adverb; dus ik ga... uses it as a conjunction.
See also
Review the verb-second rule and fronting and inversion. Compare coordinating conjunctions, subordinating conjunctions, and the separate uses of modal particles.
- Complete the second sentence: *Het sneeuwt. Daarom ___ Noor thuis.*
- blijft
- Noor blijft
- thuis blijft
- blijven
*Daarom* fills position 1, so the finite verb comes next and the subject follows: *Daarom blijft Noor thuis.*
- Which sentence has correct word order with *toch* at the start?
- Toch Sara gaat fietsen.
- Toch gaat Sara fietsen.
- Toch Sara fietsen gaat.
- Toch fietsen Sara gaat.
A fronted linking adverb is followed by the finite verb and then the subject: *Toch gaat Sara fietsen.*
- Which statement about these two sentences is correct? *Dus bestel ik soep.* / *Dus ik bestel soep.*
- Only the first sentence is standard.
- Only the second sentence is standard.
- Both are standard: dus is an adverb in the first and a conjunction in the second.
- Neither is standard.
*dus* has both uses. As an adverb it fills position 1 and triggers inversion; as a coordinating conjunction it stands outside the clause and the subject stays first.
- Which sentence correctly keeps the linking adverb inside a subject-first clause?
- Wij daarom nemen de bus.
- Wij nemen daarom de bus.
- Wij daarom de bus nemen.
- Wij de bus daarom nemen.
When *wij* occupies position 1, the finite verb remains second and *daarom* can stand later: *Wij nemen daarom de bus.*
- Choose the best link: *Het regent. ___ gaat Elena wandelen.* (nevertheless)
- Daarom
- Daardoor
- Toch
- Daarna
*toch* can express an unexpected contrast: despite the rain, Elena goes walking. At the start it is followed by the verb: *Toch gaat Elena wandelen.*
Test yourself
Question 1 of 5
Complete the second sentence: Het sneeuwt. Daarom ___ Noor thuis.
See also
- The verb-second (V2) rule in Dutch
- Dutch inversion: Morgen ga ik (Tomorrow I’m going)
- Dutch coordinating conjunctions: and, but, or, because and so
- Subordinating conjunctions in Dutch: omdat, als, terwijl, hoewel, zodat
- Dutch modal particles: even, maar, eens, toch, wel
- toen, als or wanneer: saying 'when' in Dutch