Cause and Effect: Hierdoor and Daardoor
To explain how one event leads to another—like describing an unexpected chain reaction—Dutch uses the causal adverbs hierdoor (because of this) and daardoor (because of that, as a result).
These are pronominal adverbs, formed by combining hier (here) or daar (there) with the preposition door (through/by).
Triggering Inversion
Because these words emphasize the cause, they are frequently placed at the beginning of a sentence. Placing any element other than the subject at the beginning of a main clause triggers V2 inversion.
The causal adverb takes Position 1, the finite verb immediately follows in Position 2, and the subject is pushed back to Position 3.
| Because of this, the short circuit occurs. | Hierdoor ontstaat de kortsluiting. |
| Because of that, the short circuit causes the outage. | Daardoor veroorzaakt de kortsluiting de uitval. |
Compound Sentences and Separable Verbs
This V2 inversion rule also applies when starting a second main clause with daardoor or hierdoor, such as after the coordinating conjunction en (and).
| She misjudges the problem and because of that the argument escalates. | Zij verkijkt zich op het probleem en daardoor escaleert de ruzie. |
With separable verbs, the finite verb sits in the second position while the prefix is pushed to the end of the clause.
| Because of this, the strike takes place and the conflict escalates. | Hierdoor vindt de staking plaats en escaleert het conflict. |
Flexible Placement
These adverbs don't have to sit at the front. When placed later in the sentence, they act like regular adverbs and do not trigger inversion.
| When he missteps, the pain quickly worsens because of that. | Wanneer hij zich verstapt, verergert de pijn daardoor snel. |
