ELONIO

Drawing conclusions (dus)

Two Word Orders with dus

You already know dus (so / therefore) — it connects a reason to its conclusion. Dutch allows two word orders after it, and both are correct. This lesson trains them side by side.

Order 1: dus as a Connector

Used like want and maar, dus sits between the two clauses, and the word order after it stays normal: subject first, then the verb.

It is cold, so I am wearing my coat.
Het is koud, dus ik draag mijn jas.
I am sick, so I am staying home.
Ik ben ziek, dus ik blijf thuis.
He is tired, so he is going to bed.
Hij is moe, dus hij gaat naar bed.
It is late, so we are going home.
Het is laat, dus wij gaan naar huis.

Order 2: dus in First Position

Dus can also take the first position of the result clause itself. As always in Dutch, a filled first position triggers inversion: the verb comes before the subject.

It is cold, therefore I am wearing my coat.
Het is koud, dus draag ik mijn jas.
It is raining, therefore we are staying inside.
Het regent, dus blijven wij binnen.
I am thirsty, therefore I am drinking water.
Ik heb dorst, dus drink ik water.
It is late, therefore we are going home.
Het is laat, dus gaan wij naar huis.

Which Order When?

They mean the same thing. The connector order is the looser, more conversational one; the inversion order ties the conclusion a little more tightly to the reason. In this course, English so asks for the connector order and English therefore asks for the inversion order.

English cueDutch pattern
..., so I ...dus + subject + verb
..., therefore I ...dus + verb + subject
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