Dutch Conjunctions En, Maar, Want, Dus and Of

Giving Reasons and Making Choices

These are the sentences you will build most: a plan with a reason, a wish with a "but", a choice between two things.

Situation	Example
A reason	We nemen de bus, want het regent. We nemen de bus, want het regent. - We are taking the bus because it is raining.
A result	Het regent, dus we nemen de bus. Het regent, dus we nemen de bus. - It is raining, so we are taking the bus.
A contrast	Hij is aardig, maar een beetje saai. Hij is aardig, maar een beetje saai. - He is nice, but a bit boring.
A choice	Gaan we fietsen of nemen we de auto? Gaan we fietsen of nemen we de auto? - Are we cycling or taking the car?
Two facts	Zij spreekt Nederlands en haar man spreekt Engels. Zij spreekt Nederlands en haar man spreekt Engels. - She speaks Dutch and her husband speaks English.
An excuse	Ik kan niet komen, want ik moet werken. Ik kan niet komen, want ik moet werken. - I can't come because I have to work.

When both sentences have the same subject, you can leave it out after en, maar and of: Ik sta op en drink koffie. After want the subject always stays.

Not Linking Words: Daarom, Daarna, Toen

Some words look like they link sentences but are really adverbs. They take the first position of the second sentence, so the verb comes straight after them, before the subject.

Word	Meaning	Example
daarom	that is why	Ik ben ziek. Daarom blijf ik thuis. Ik ben ziek. Daarom blijf ik thuis. - I am ill. That is why I am staying home.
daarna	after that	Eerst drink ik koffie en daarna ga ik naar mijn werk. Eerst drink ik koffie en daarna ga ik naar mijn werk. - First I drink coffee and after that I go to work.
toen	then (in the past)	We aten en toen gingen we naar huis. We aten en toen gingen we naar huis. - We ate and then we went home.
dan	then	Eerst werk ik, dan kook ik. Eerst werk ik, dan kook ik. - First I work, then I cook.

How to Actually Use Them

Build the first sentence, add the linking word, and then simply start a new normal sentence. Nothing moves. That makes want the easiest way to give a reason in Dutch, and the one to use when you are speaking fast.

In lesson 10 you meet omdat, which also means "because" but sends the verb to the end: …, omdat ik ziek ben. Both are correct and both are common; want is simply easier to build on the fly.

Mistakes English Speakers Make

English puts subject and verb in the same place after "because", "so" and "but", which is right for want and maar. The trouble comes from mixing in the rules for omdat and daarom.