Unless: tenzij
When you want to express an exception to a plan or a statement, such as going ahead with a flight unless the weather is terrible, use the conjunction tenzij (unless).
Tenzij is a subordinating conjunction. This means it introduces a dependent clause, which pushes the conjugated verb all the way to the end of that clause.
| The flight is going ahead, unless the storm is severe. | De vlucht gaat door, tenzij de storm hevig is. |
| I am cancelling the appointment, unless the fog disappears. | Ik zeg de afspraak af, tenzij de mist verdwijnt. |
If the tenzij clause contains multiple verbs, such as a helping verb and a past participle, all of the verbs are pushed to the end together.
| We are cancelling the party, unless you have already arrived. | Wij zeggen het feest af, tenzij jullie al zijn aangekomen. |
Canceling Plans Due to Weather
In this lesson, you will learn terms for severe weather, such as de storm (the storm), de mist (the fog), and de bliksem (the lightning). You will often use these to talk about canceling plans (afzeggen).
When explaining why plans changed, you will often use coordinating conjunctions like want (because). As a reminder, coordinating conjunctions connect two main clauses, so the word order in the second clause stays normal (Subject + Verb), unlike sentences with tenzij.
| We are staying inside, because the thunderstorm is severe. | Wij blijven binnen, want het onweer is hevig. |
| The forecast is bad, because it is going to freeze tonight. | De voorspelling is slecht, want het gaat vanavond vriezen. |
| Are you staying inside, unless the lightning stops? | Blijf jij binnen, tenzij de bliksem stopt? |