Learn Hardcore Dutch: Als jij je verslag op tijd inlevert, krijg je eerder feedback. - If you hand in your report on time, you will receive feedback earlier.

Main clause: Je levert je verslag op tijd in.
→ Subject (je) – verb (levert) – other elements – particle (in)
Subordinate clause: Als je je verslag op tijd inlevert …
→ Subordinator (Als) – subject (je) – other elements – verb (inlevert)

So the verb inlevert appears at the end because als makes it a subordinate clause, and Dutch pushes the verb to the end in that type of clause.

Why is it inlevert and not levert in here?

Inleveren is a separable verb:

Base verb: inleveren (to hand in, to submit)
Separable parts: in
- leveren

Rules:

In a main clause, the prefix usually separates and goes to the end:
Je levert het verslag op tijd in.
In a subordinate clause, the parts stay together at the end:
… als je het verslag op tijd inlevert.

Because the first part is a subordinate clause introduced by als, we use the combined form inlevert at the end.

Why does the second part say krijg je and not je krijgt?

The second part, krijg je eerder feedback, is a main clause that comes after a subordinate clause.

In Dutch, when a sentence begins with something other than the subject (for example, a time phrase or a subordinate clause), we use inversion: the verb comes before the subject.

Neutral order: Je krijgt eerder feedback. (subject–verb)
With the als-clause in front:
Als jij je verslag op tijd inlevert, krijg je eerder feedback.
→ subordinate clause, then in the main clause: verb (krijg) – subject (je)

So krijg je is normal inverted order after a fronted element (here: the als-clause).

What is the difference between als and wanneer here? Could I say Wanneer jij je verslag op tijd inlevert?

You can say Wanneer jij je verslag op tijd inlevert, krijg je eerder feedback, and it would still be understood.

Nuances:

Als
- Very common for if-type conditions.
- Also used for when in the sense of whenever / every time that.
- Sounds slightly more informal and everyday in many contexts.
Wanneer
- Often more explicitly when (time-related), but can also be conditional.
- Can sound a bit more formal or written, depending on context.

In this sentence, we have a clear condition (if you hand it in on time), so als is the most natural and most frequent choice.

Why do we have both jij and je together: Als jij je verslag…? Isn’t that repetitive?

They have different functions:

jij = subject pronoun (you)
je = possessive pronoun (your) in this sentence

So jij je verslag literally means you [hand in] your report.

In English, this is normal too: If you submit your report… (you / your).

You could also say Als je je verslag op tijd inlevert… (using the unstressed je for the subject). The version with jij puts a bit more emphasis on you, e.g.:

Als jij je verslag op tijd inlevert, krijg je eerder feedback.
→ Emphasis on you (as opposed to others).

Is je in je verslag the same word as the je in krijg je?

They look the same and are pronounced the same, but they have different grammatical roles:

In je verslag → je is a possessive pronoun:
- je verslag = your report
In krijg je eerder feedback → je is a subject pronoun (you):
- Neutral order would be je krijgt eerder feedback (you get earlier feedback).
- Because of inversion, we get krijg je.

Context tells you which function je has.

Why is it op tijd and not something like in tijd or op de tijd?

Op tijd is a fixed expression meaning:

on time, in time, before the deadline

Some patterns in Dutch:

op tijd = on time
op vrijdag = on Friday
op school = at school

So op is common with time and location expressions.
In tijd is not idiomatic here, and op de tijd would mean something like on the specific time, which is not how Dutch expresses on time.

Why is it the present tense krijg je and not something like zal je krijgen for the future?

Dutch very often uses the present tense where English uses the future:

Dutch: Als jij je verslag op tijd inlevert, krijg je eerder feedback.
English: If you hand in your report on time, you will get feedback earlier.

Using zal je krijgen is grammatically possible, but it sounds more formal, heavier, and is usually unnecessary in everyday speech.

The Dutch present tense here already includes a future meaning because the condition clearly refers to a future situation.

What exactly does eerder mean here? Is it earlier, sooner, or faster?

Eerder is the comparative form of vroeg = early, and it usually means:

earlier (in time)
sooner

In this sentence:

krijg je eerder feedback
→ you get feedback earlier / you will receive feedback sooner

It does not mean faster in the sense of quickly (that would be sneller, focusing on speed rather than on the point in time). Here the nuance is: you will receive feedback at an earlier moment than you otherwise would.

Could I say vroeger feedback instead of eerder feedback?

Generally no, not in this context.

eerder = earlier (than some reference point), sooner
vroeger = in earlier times / in the past, or used to (talking about earlier periods in life or history)

Examples:

Ik krijg eerder feedback.
→ I get feedback earlier (than expected / than others / than before).
Vroeger kreeg ik nooit feedback.
→ In the past / long ago, I never used to get feedback.

So eerder feedback is correct here; vroeger feedback would sound like you are contrasting with a past time, not with another moment in the same process.

Why is there a comma before krijg je eerder feedback?

There is a comma because the sentence starts with a subordinate clause:

Als jij je verslag op tijd inlevert, → subordinate clause
krijg je eerder feedback. → main clause

In Dutch writing, it is standard to separate a fronted subordinate clause from the following main clause with a comma.

If the order were reversed, you could often omit the comma:

Je krijgt eerder feedback als jij je verslag op tijd inlevert. (comma usually optional here)

Can I drop jij and just say Als je je verslag op tijd inlevert?

Yes, absolutely. In fact, that’s often more natural and neutral:

Als je je verslag op tijd inlevert, krijg je eerder feedback.

Differences:

jij = stressed form → used for emphasis or contrast (YOU in particular)
je = unstressed form → neutral, everyday

So:

Neutral: Als je je verslag op tijd inlevert…
Emphatic: Als jij je verslag op tijd inlevert… (implying: if you do it, then…)