Learn Hardcore Dutch: Ik fiets snel, anders ben ik te laat.

It translates to "I cycle fast, otherwise I’ll be too late." This means that if I don’t ride fast, the consequence will be that I arrive too late.

What is the role of the word anders in this sentence?

Anders means "otherwise" or "or else." It introduces an alternative outcome—indicating that if the first condition (cycling fast) isn’t met, the consequence (being too late) will occur.

Why is there a comma before anders?

The comma is used to separate the two clauses in the sentence. In Dutch, commas can help clarify the relationship between independent clauses, especially when one clause presents a contrasting condition or consequence to the other.

Why does the clause "anders ben ik te laat" use the order "ben ik" instead of "ik ben"?

Dutch follows a verb-second (V2) word order rule. When a sentence—or a clause—starts with an element other than the subject (in this case, anders), the finite verb comes directly afterwards, followed by the subject. That’s why it’s "ben ik" instead of the usual subject-first order "ik ben."

Why is the present tense used here even though it suggests a future consequence?

In Dutch, the present tense is often employed to express future outcomes when the context makes the timing clear. The sentence implies a habitual or predictable result: if I don’t cycle fast, then I consistently end up being too late.