Master the Subordinate Clause (Perfect Tense)
An essential structure for B1 proficiency.
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Jump straight into interactive exercises with this structure.
How it works
Subordinate Perfect: The Verb Pile-up 📚
What happens when you combine the "Verb Kicker" (Subordinate Clause) with the "Time Machine" (Perfect Tense)? You get a pile of verbs at the end of the sentence.
The Rule
- Conjunction (omdat) starts the clause.
- Both Verbs (hebben + ge-word) go to the end.
The Order (Red or Green?)
In Dutch, you can often choose the order of the final verbs!
- Option A: [Participle] + [Auxiliary] (...gedaan heb)
- Option B: [Auxiliary] + [Participle] (...heb gedaan)
Both are correct! Option B (heb gedaan) is becoming more common in spoken Dutch because it matches the order of other clusters.
Formula: Omdat + [Subject] + [Rest] + [Heb/Ben] + [Ge-word]
Example
- Main: Ik heb het boek gelezen.
- Subordinate: ...omdat ik het boek gelezen heb. (or heb gelezen).
Pro Tip 💡
Don't stress about the order of the final two verbs. Just make sure they are both at the end. If you put them in the middle, you lose!
Example Sentences
Ik weet dat mijn vriend de sleutel heeft gehouden.
I know that my friend has kept the key.
De klant is boos, omdat we de deadline gemist hebben.
The client is angry because we missed the deadline.
Hij vertelde dat hij zijn ticket al gekocht had.
He said that he had already bought his ticket.
Het water is koud omdat de winter is begonnen.
The water is cold because the winter has begun.
Ik voel me beter, omdat ik genoeg geslapen heb.
I feel better because I have slept enough.