Learn Dutch: Doordat de woestijn groeit, worden veel dieren bedreigd. - Because the desert grows, many animals are threatened.

Doordat de woestijn groeit, worden veel dieren bedreigd.

Because the desert grows, many animals are threatened.

Breakdown of Doordat de woestijn groeit, worden veel dieren bedreigd.

veel

much / many / a lot of

Questions & Answers about Doordat de woestijn groeit, worden veel dieren bedreigd.

What is the difference between using doordat and omdat in this sentence?

Both translate to "because", but doordat is used for an objective cause (one thing causes another physically or logically, without human intention). The desert growing is a natural process that directly causes the threat to the animals. Omdat is usually used for a reason or motivation. While Dutch speakers often just use omdat in daily speech, doordat is the most precise choice for a non-human cause like this.

Why is the main verb worden placed right after the comma?

This happens because of inversion. The entire first clause (Doordat de woestijn groeit) takes up the first slot of the main sentence. To keep the main verb in the second position, worden has to come right after the comma, swapping places with the subject veel dieren.

Why does this sentence use worden ... bedreigd instead of zijn ... bedreigd?

This is the present tense passive voice. Using worden shows that the action is happening right now: the animals are currently being threatened. If you used zijn (zijn bedreigd), it would be the present perfect passive, meaning the action was already finished (they have been threatened).

Since doordat is a subordinating conjunction, shouldn't it send the verb to the end of its clause?