Learn Hardcore Dutch: Tom oefent elke dag in het stadion, omdat hij docent lichamelijke opvoeding wil worden. - Tom practises every day in the stadium because he wants to become a physical-education teacher.

Oefenen is the infinitive “to practice.” In the sentence the subject is Tom (he), so we need the third-person singular present tense form: oefent. In Dutch present tense you add -t for hij/zij/het:
• ik oefen
• jij oefent
• hij oefent
• wij oefenen

Why is it elke dag and not dagelijks?

Both elke dag and dagelijks can translate as “every day.”
• elke dag is more common in spoken and written Dutch for daily routines.
• dagelijks is an adverb too, but sounds a bit more formal or book-ish.
Learners often prefer elke dag when describing personal habits.

Why do we say in het stadion – is the article necessary?

In Dutch, singular countable nouns normally need an article (definite or indefinite). Here they chose the definite article het because:
1) It may refer to a specific, known stadium (e.g. Tom’s home stadium).
2) Generic locations often use the definite article (like in de supermarkt, in de kantine).
You could say in een stadion (“in a stadium”) if you want to stress it’s just any stadium, not a particular one.

What does docent lichamelijke opvoeding mean?

Docent = “teacher” (often at secondary schools)
Lichamelijke opvoeding = “physical education” (PE)
So docent lichamelijke opvoeding is a “PE teacher.”

Why is there a comma before omdat, and is it required?

In Dutch you usually place a comma before a subordinate clause introduced by omdat to clearly separate the main and subordinate clauses. It’s good style and makes long sentences easier to read, but in very short, simple sentences it’s not strictly mandatory.

Why does omdat send the verb to the end of its clause?

Omdat is a subordinating conjunction. In Dutch subordinate clauses (SOV order) the finite verb and any infinitives move to the very end. That’s why you see wil worden (“wants to become”) after hij docent lichamelijke opvoeding.

Could I use want instead of omdat? What’s the difference?

Yes, you can.
• omdat is a subordinating conjunction → verb goes to the end.
• want is a coordinating conjunction → verb stays in second position.
Example with want:
Tom oefent elke dag in het stadion, want hij wil docent lichamelijke opvoeding worden.

Why does the clause end with wil worden and not just worden?

Wil is the conjugated modal verb meaning “wants.” Worden is the infinitive “to become.” In Dutch:
• Main clause: subject–verb–object–infinitive (SVOI)
• Subordinate clause: subject–object–verb cluster (SO-VV)
So after omdat you get: …hij (S) docent lichamelijke opvoeding (O) wil worden (VV).