Ik wacht op de bus.
English: I am waiting for the bus.
- Language
- Dutch
- Level
- B1
- Unit
- Voorzetsels
- Practice types
- 0
What this grammar point covers
In Dutch, some prepositions are always used together with specific words or verbs. These are called 'fixed combinations with prepositions'. You have to learn which preposition goes with which word, because it does not always follow a rule.
When to use it
You use these fixed combinations when you want to connect a verb, noun, or adjective with a preposition in Dutch. The combination is often different from what you might expect. It is important to use the correct preposition with each word.
Key forms
- denken aan
- wachten op
- praten over
- houden van
- zich interesseren voor
Examples
Zij denkt aan haar moeder.
English: She thinks of her mother.
Wij praten over het probleem.
English: We talk about the problem.
Hij houdt van muziek.
English: He loves music.
Ik interesseer me voor kunst.
English: I am interested in art.
Tips
- Always learn the verb and the preposition together as a phrase.
- Do not translate prepositions directly from your own language; the combination may be different.
- Some verbs change their meaning when combined with a different preposition.
Exceptions and edge cases
- Some verbs can take more than one preposition with a different meaning, for example: denken aan (to think of) vs. denken over (to reflect on).