Verbs with Fixed Prepositions (Vaste Preposities)

Verbs with Fixed Prepositions (Vaste Preposities) (B1)

Many Dutch verbs require a specific, fixed preposition to connect the verb to its object or complement. This pairing of verb + preposition often doesn't directly translate from English and must be learned as a unit.

Concept:

Instead of choosing a preposition based on general meaning (like location or time), these verbs have a grammatical link to one particular preposition when used with a certain meaning or type of object.

Examples of Common Verb + Fixed Preposition Combinations (B1 Level):

wachten op - to wait for
Example: Ik wacht op de bus. (I am waiting for the bus.)
Pronominal Adverb: Ik wacht erop. (I am waiting for it.)
denken aan - to think about/of
Example: Ik denk aan jou. (I am thinking of you.)
Pronominal Adverb: Ik denk eraan. (I am thinking about it.)
praten over / spreken over - to talk about
Example: We praten over het weer. (We are talking about the weather.)
Pronominal Adverb: We praten erover. (We are talking about it.)
houden van - to love / to like
Example: Ik hou van chocolade. (I love chocolate.)
Pronominal Adverb: Ik hou ervan. (I love it.)
luisteren naar - to listen to
Example: Hij luistert naar muziek. (He is listening to music.)
Pronominal Adverb: Hij luistert ernaar. (He is listening to it.)
zoeken naar - to search for / look for
Example: Zij zoekt naar haar sleutels. (She is looking for her keys.)
Pronominal Adverb: Zij zoekt ernaar. (She is looking for them.)
geloven in - to believe in
Example: Geloof jij in spoken? (Do you believe in ghosts?)
Pronominal Adverb: Geloof jij erin? (Do you believe in them/it?)
beginnen met - to begin with
Example: We beginnen met de oefening. (We begin with the exercise.)
Pronominal Adverb: We beginnen ermee. (We begin with it.)
stoppen met - to stop with (doing something)
Example: Hij stopt met roken. (He is stopping smoking.)
Pronominal Adverb: Hij stopt ermee. (He is stopping it.)
vragen naar - to ask about / inquire about
Example: Ik vraag naar de openingstijden. (I ask about the opening hours.)
Pronominal Adverb: Ik vraag ernaar. (I ask about them.)
genieten van - to enjoy
Example: Zij geniet van de zon. (She enjoys the sun.)
Pronominal Adverb: Zij geniet ervan. (She enjoys it.)
rekenen op - to count on / rely on
Example: Ik reken op jouw hulp. (I am counting on your help.)
Pronominal Adverb: Ik reken erop. (I am counting on it.)
zorgen voor - to care for / take care of
Example: De moeder zorgt voor haar kinderen. (The mother cares for her children.)
Pronominal Adverb: Zij zorgt ervoor. (She takes care of it/them - referring to the task, not people)

Usage with Pronominal Adverbs:

As seen in the examples, when the object of the preposition is a thing or concept (het), the preposition combines with er (or hier/daar/waar) to form a pronominal adverb (erop, eraan, ermee, ernaar, ervan, etc.).

If the object is a person, use preposition + pronoun (e.g., Ik wacht op hem.)

Why Learn Fixed Prepositions?

Accuracy: Using the wrong preposition sounds unnatural and can sometimes change the meaning or be grammatically incorrect.
Comprehension: Recognizing these fixed pairs helps understand spoken and written Dutch.
Foundation for Pronominal Adverbs: Knowing the fixed preposition is essential for forming the correct pronominal adverb.

Learning these combinations often requires memorization through practice and exposure. Creating personal lists or using flashcards can be helpful strategies at the B1 level.