“Om te” or Just “Te”? The Dutch Grammar Rule That Trips Up Everyone
dodoLet’s be real:
Some Dutch grammar rules are tricky.
This one is ridiculous.
You’re reading a sentence like:
Hij probeert om Nederlands te leren.
And then another one says:
Hij belooft Nederlands te leren.
Wait—why does one use “om te” and the other just “te”?
Is it random? Is it just vibes?
Let’s untangle it together.
First: What Are “Te” and “Om te” Doing?
Quick refresher:
In Dutch, when you want to link two verbs (like “try to learn,” “forget to go”), you often need “te” or “om te” in between.
It’s like a grammatical bridge.
But sometimes it’s just te...
And sometimes it’s om te.
Why?
The Core Rule (That Actually Helps)
Here’s the rule that makes it click:
🔑 Use “om te” when there’s a purpose or goal.
🔑 Use “te” when the second verb is directly connected to the first.
Still foggy? Let’s look at examples.
“Te” — When the Verbs Stick Together Naturally
These verbs don’t need “om” because they already come bundled with a second action.
Common examples:
beginnen te → to begin to
proberen te → to try to
besluiten te → to decide to
vergeten te → to forget to
beloven te → to promise to
Example sentences:
Hij begint te koken. → He begins to cook.
Ik probeer te slapen. → I’m trying to sleep.
Ze vergeet te bellen. → She forgets to call.
Wij besluiten te stoppen. → We decide to stop.
🧠 Think of te as the Dutch version of “to” when linking two verbs.
“Om te” — When There’s a Goal or Intention
Now enter “om te” — used when the te+verb expresses the purpose of the first action.
Common structure:
[Action] om [goal] te [verb]
Examples:
Hij studeert om te slagen. → He studies to pass.
Ze werkt hard om haar ouders trots te maken. → She works hard to make her parents proud.
Ik oefen om beter te worden. → I practice to get better.
We sparen om een huis te kopen. → We’re saving to buy a house.
Notice the pattern?
👉 You’re doing something in order to achieve something else.
Want a Handy Analogy?
Think of “te” as glue.
It connects two verbs that go naturally together.
Think of “om te” as an arrow.
It points toward a purpose.
“Ik probeer te leren.”
“Ik lees boeken om te leren.”
The first means: I’m trying to learn.
The second means: I’m reading books in order to learn.
Both are valid—but they serve different grammar needs.
Watch Out: Some Verbs Can Take Both (Depending on Meaning)
Sometimes both options are technically possible—but the meaning shifts slightly.
Compare:
Ik leer te koken. → I’m learning to cook.
Ik lees kookboeken om te leren koken. → I read cookbooks to learn to cook.
One describes the action directly.
The other gives the reason why.
Reddit users say:
“This rule isn’t hard once you actually see enough examples. It’s just never explained clearly in apps.”
What Most Apps Don’t Tell You
Apps like Duolingo often drop sentences with te or om te…
…without ever telling you why it’s used that way.
You end up memorizing phrases instead of understanding the pattern.
That’s why Dodo has a dedicated “Te vs. Om Te” mini-game, with explanations built in.
How Dodo Helps You Nail This Rule
Dodo’s Te/Om Te Trainer does what other apps don’t:
✅ Walks you through real examples with meaning behind the choice
✅ Gives you side-by-side comparison sentences
✅ Tests you in bite-sized drills with feedback
✅ Builds spaced repetition around your common mistakes
✅ And yes—your pet evolves as you get it right 🦤
No guessing. Just grammar that clicks.
What Does This Mean for You?
Use te when the second verb is tightly linked to the first
Use om te when you're expressing a purpose or goal
Learn through examples, not theory
Dodo helps you practice this until it’s second nature
You’ve Got This
One day soon, you’ll say:
Ik ben hier om Nederlands te leren.
And no one will blink.
No one will pause.
Because it’ll sound natural. Clear. Confident.
Just like you.
P.S. Want to finally master “om te” vs. “te” without memorizing a grammar chart?
👉 Download Dodo and try the Te/Om Te Trainer.
You’ll stop guessing—and start getting it right.