Breakdown of Omdat ik wil slapen, moet ik mijn computer uitdoen.
ik
I
willen
to want
mijn
my
moeten
must
omdat
because
slapen
to sleep
de computer
the computer
uitdoen
to turn off
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Questions & Answers about Omdat ik wil slapen, moet ik mijn computer uitdoen.
What is omdat, and why is it used here instead of want?
Omdat and want both mean “because,” but they behave differently:
- Omdat is a subordinating conjunction. It introduces a subordinate clause and sends all verbs to the end of that clause.
- Want is a coordinating conjunction. It keeps the normal word order (finite verb in second position). In this sentence we need a subordinate clause (“because I want to sleep”), so we choose omdat.
Why do the verbs in omdat ik wil slapen come at the end, and why is it wil slapen and not slapen wil?
Subordinate clauses in Dutch follow an S-O-V order for verbs:
- All verbs go after subjects, objects, adverbs, etc.
- Within a verb cluster, the main (lexical) verb comes last, auxiliaries or modals just before it.
Here:
- ik = subject
- no object
- verb cluster: modal wil
- lexical slapen, with slapen last → omdat ik wil slapen.
Why is there an inversion in moet ik mijn computer uitdoen after the comma?
In Dutch main clauses the finite verb normally sits in second position. When you start a sentence (or clause) with something other than the main clause itself (here, a subordinate omdat-clause), you have “inversion”:
- Fronted element: Omdat ik wil slapen,
- Main clause: finite verb moet comes before the subject ik → moet ik.
Why is there no te before slapen or uitdoen?
After modal verbs (like willen, moeten, kunnen, mogen) you use the bare infinitive:
- Correct: ik wil slapen, ik moet uitdoen
- Not: ik wil te slapen, ik moet te uitdoen
So both slapen and uitdoen remain without te.
How do separable verbs like uitdoen behave with a modal verb?
- In a simple main clause without an extra verb, you split them: ik doe mijn computer uit.
- With a modal (or other auxiliary) you keep the infinitive together at the end:
“moet ik mijn computer uitdoen.”
You never separate uit from doen in an infinitive cluster.
Is the comma after omdat ik wil slapen mandatory?
A comma after a fronted subordinate clause is standard in Dutch writing for clarity, but not absolutely mandatory. In informal contexts you might omit it, though it’s generally recommended.
Can I also say Ik moet mijn computer uitdoen omdat ik wil slapen? Does the word order change?
Yes. If the main clause comes first, there’s no inversion:
- Ik moet mijn computer uitdoen omdat ik wil slapen.
Here:- Main clause: ik moet ... uitdoen (finite verb second)
- Subordinate clause: omdat ik wil slapen (verbs at end)
What exactly does moet mean here?
moet is the first-person singular present of moeten, a modal verb expressing necessity or obligation. In English it corresponds to “must” or “have to.”