Questions & Answers about Ik ben zo uitgeput dat ik niet kan werken.
How does the zo ... dat structure change the word order in the second half of the sentence?
The word zo (so) modifies the adjective uitgeput. Then, the word dat (that) introduces a subordinate result clause. This means it pushes all the verbs in its clause to the very end. That is why we say dat ik niet kan werken instead of the normal main-clause order ik kan niet werken.
Why is the word order kan werken at the end of the sentence? Can I say werken kan?
When you have a modal verb like kan (can) and an infinitive like werken (to work) at the end of a subordinate clause, standard Dutch strongly prefers putting the conjugated modal verb first. So kan werken is the most natural and standard choice.
Where does the word uitgeput come from?
It is the past participle of the separable verb uitputten (to exhaust). Here, it is being used purely as an adjective meaning exhausted, which is why it pairs directly with zo (so).
Why does niet come before the verbs in the dat clause?
The word niet (not) generally goes before the specific words it negates. Because the word dat pushes both verbs (kan and werken) to the very end of the sentence, niet simply stacks up right in front of them.