Log inSign up

Tom wil vanavond overwerken.

Tom wil vanavond overwerken.
Tom wants to work overtime tonight.
FromLesson 46inHardcore Dutch
……

Breakdown of Tom wil vanavond overwerken.

Tom
Tom
willen
to want
vanavond
tonight
overwerken
to work overtime

Questions & Answers about Tom wil vanavond overwerken.

Does wil mean future tense like English “will”?

No. wil is the present-tense form of willen and means wants (to), not future. To express the future, Dutch typically uses:

  • gaat: Tom gaat vanavond overwerken. (Tom is going to work overtime tonight.)
  • zal: Tom zal vanavond overwerken. (Tom will work overtime tonight; more formal/predictive.) Often simple present is enough for future plans: Tom werkt vanavond over.
Why is it Tom wil and not Tom wilt?

Because the 3rd person singular of willen is wil (no -t). Present conjugation:

  • ik wil
  • jij/je wil or wilt (both common; after inversion: wil je?)
  • hij/zij/het wil
  • u wilt (also wil in informal speech)
  • wij/jullie/zij willen
Why is overwerken at the end of the sentence?

Dutch main clauses are verb-second. With modal verbs (like wil), the full verb stays as an infinitive at the end: Subject + finite verb (V2) + … + infinitive at the end.

  • Tom wil … overwerken.
Is overwerken a separable verb? How does that affect word order?

Yes, in the meaning “to work overtime” it’s separable. Without a modal:

  • Main clause: Tom werkt vanavond over.
  • Subordinate clause: omdat Tom vanavond opbelt → by analogy: omdat Tom vanavond overwerkt.
  • Perfect: Hij heeft gisteren overgewerkt.
Do I need te before overwerken?

No. Dutch modals (willen, kunnen, moeten, mogen, zullen) take a bare infinitive:

  • Tom wil vanavond overwerken. (not: te overwerken)
Where can I put vanavond?

Typical neutral placement is after the subject and finite verb, before the rest:

  • Tom wil vanavond overwerken. Fronting for emphasis/topic is common:
  • Vanavond wil Tom overwerken. Sentence-final is possible (more informal/speechy):
  • Tom wil overwerken vanavond.
Is vanavond one word? Are there similar words?

Yes, one word. Similar time adverbs:

  • vandaag (today), vanmiddag (this afternoon), vanmorgen/vanochtend (this morning), vannacht (tonight/at night). Don’t say “vandaag avond”; say vanavond. Deze avond is possible (more common in Belgium), but vanavond is the default.
Does vanavond mean “tonight” or “this evening”? How is it different from vannacht?
vanavond is this evening (roughly early evening to around midnight). vannacht is tonight during the night (after late evening, especially after midnight). English “tonight” can cover both; Dutch distinguishes them.
How do I negate the sentence?

Place niet before the infinitive (with a modal), or before the particle in a separable main clause:

  • Tom wil vanavond niet overwerken.
  • Tom werkt vanavond niet over.
How do I make a yes/no question?

Invert the finite verb to the front:

  • Wil Tom vanavond overwerken? Without the modal:
  • Werkt Tom vanavond over?
How do I express a plan (not just a desire)?

Use gaat or simple present:

  • Tom gaat vanavond overwerken. (He’s going to…)
  • Tom werkt vanavond over. (Scheduled/arranged.)
How do I say it more politely or softly?

Use graag or the conditional:

  • Tom wil graag vanavond overwerken. (He would like to…)
  • Tom zou graag vanavond overwerken. (More tentative/polite.)
How do I say it in the past?

Past of willen:

  • Tom wilde/wou vanavond overwerken. (Both are common: “wilde” is standard; “wou” is very common in speech.) Perfect with a modal:
  • Tom heeft vanavond willen overwerken. (He wanted to work overtime tonight.)
Are there synonyms for overwerken?

Yes:

  • overuren maken/draaien (do overtime)
  • (Belgium) overuren doen These are common alternatives in workplaces.
What’s the difference between overwerken and doorwerken?
  • overwerken = work overtime beyond normal hours (often paid or officially registered).
  • doorwerken = keep/continue working (not necessarily beyond normal hours; can also mean work without breaks).
Any pitfalls with overwerkt?

Yes. overwerkt is also an adjective meaning “overworked/exhausted.” Context distinguishes:

  • Hij heeft veel overgewerkt. (He has done a lot of overtime.)
  • Hij is overwerkt. (He is overworked/exhausted.)
How does this look in a subordinate clause?
  • Ik weet dat Tom vanavond wil overwerken. (modal + infinitive cluster at the end)
  • Omdat Tom vanavond overwerkt, kan het project af. (finite separable verb rejoined at the end)
Any pronunciation tips?
  • wil: short i, like “will” in English but Dutch w is a soft [ʋ].
  • vanavond: stress on the second syllable: va-NAA-vond; final d sounds like t.
  • overwerken: OH-vur-wer-kən; Dutch r varies by region; final -en is often lightly pronounced or reduced.

More from this lesson

de tanteaardigMijn tante kookt soep en is heel aardig.de tandenborstellogerenVergeet je tandenborstel niet als je komt logeren.de shampoohet haar
AI Language TutorTry it ↗
“What's the best way to learn Dutch grammar?”
Dutch grammar becomes intuitive with practice. Focus on understanding the core patterns first — how sentences are structured, how verbs change form, and how words relate to each other. Our course breaks these concepts into small lessons so you can build understanding step by step.

Sign up free — start using our AI language tutor

Start learning Dutch

Master Dutch — from Tom wil vanavond overwerken to fluency

All course content and exercises are completely free — no paywalls, no trial periods.

  • ✓ Infinitely deep — unlimited vocabulary and grammar
  • ✓ Fast-paced — build complex sentences from the start
  • ✓ Unforgettable — efficient spaced repetition system
  • ✓ AI tutor to answer your grammar questions
Start learning Dutch freeBrowse the full course