Learn Hardcore Dutch: Omdat het publiek nieuwsgierig was, gaf de docent extra uitleg over het schilderij. - Because the audience was curious, the teacher gave extra explanation about the painting.

In Dutch, subordinate clauses introduced by a conjunction like omdat (“because”) send the finite verb to the very end. So you get Omdat … nieuwsgierig was rather than Omdat … was nieuwsgierig.

Why does the main clause start with gaf de docent instead of the usual de docent gaf?

When a subordinate clause comes first, Dutch applies inversion in the following main clause: the finite verb gaf moves to slot 1 and the subject de docent follows. If you swapped the clauses, you’d use normal SVO: De docent gaf extra uitleg omdat het publiek nieuwsgierig was.

Could we use want instead of omdat, and what’s the difference?

Yes, want also means “because,” but it’s a coordinating conjunction (like English “for”). It does not send the verb to the end and it doesn’t trigger inversion in the next clause. E.g.:
– Omdat het publiek nieuwsgierig was, gaf de docent … (subordinate → V at end + inversion)
– Want het publiek was nieuwsgierig, de docent gaf … (coordinate → normal word order)

Why is it extra uitleg and not meer uitleg or toelichting?

– Extra uitleg literally means “additional explanation” – something given on top of what was already provided.
– Meer uitleg simply means “more explanation,” which is also possible, but feels slightly different in nuance.
– Toelichting is a synonym for uitleg, but can sound more formal or refer to brief clarifications rather than a more detailed explanation.

Why do we say uitleg geven over het schilderij? Can’t we use aan or op?

– Over marks the topic you explain (“about the painting”).
– Aan marks the recipient of an explanation (“explanation to someone”). You could say de docent gaf het publiek uitleg over het schilderij (with both).
– Op would mean “on top of,” which doesn’t make sense here.

Why is it het publiek nieuwsgierig was and not waren nieuwsgierig?

Publiek is a collective noun treated as singular in Dutch. Therefore you pair it with the singular verb was rather than the plural waren.