Resuming with "Dan"
In Dutch, when you start a sentence with a condition or time clause—such as "If" (als), "When" (wanneer), or "As soon as" (zodra)—it is very common to start the following main clause with the resumptive adverb dan (then).
This clearly signals the shift from the condition to the action, making it perfect for urgent, step-by-step instructions.
Notice the word order: because the main clause is resumed by dan, this adverb takes up the first position of the main clause. Following standard Dutch word order rules, the verb immediately follows it, coming right before the subject.
Resuming with "Zo"
Sometimes you want to emphasize how an action should be done. In these cases, you can use zo (thus / in that way) instead of dan.
| thus / in that way (resumptive) | zo |
When used as a resumptive adverb after a fronted clause, zo translates best to "this is how." The word order rules remain exactly the same: zo sits at the start of the main clause and is followed immediately by the verb.
Keeping Calm during Procedures
These resumptive adverbs are heavily used in formal protocols and emergency procedures. By stating the condition first and resuming with dan or zo, the instructions remain crisp, clear, and direct.
