In Dutch, prepositions play a crucial role in indicating time-related relationships. Prepositions are short words that are used to connect nouns, pronouns, or phrases to other parts of a sentence. When it comes to expressing time in Dutch, prepositions are used to describe when an event occurs, how long it lasts, or for how long something has been happening. This guide will provide a brief but accurate introduction to Dutch prepositions of time, including their usage, examples, and common expressions.
“Op” (On, At)
The preposition “op” is used to indicate specific points in time or days of the week. It is used with specific dates, weekdays, and certain occasions.
Examples:
Ik ben jarig op 5 juli. (I have my birthday on July 5th.)
We gaan op maandag naar de bioscoop. (We are going to the cinema on Monday.)
Het concert vindt plaats op Kerstmis. (The concert takes place on Christmas.)
“In” (In, At)
The preposition “in” is commonly used to indicate a period of time during which an event occurs. It is also used with months, seasons, years, and longer time spans.
Examples:
We gaan op vakantie in augustus. (We are going on vacation in August.)
Ik zie je over een uur in het café. (I’ll see you in an hour at the café.)
Ik ben geboren in 1990. (I was born in 1990.)
“Bij” (At)
The preposition “bij” is often used to indicate an approximate time or when referring to a specific moment within a larger time frame.
Examples:
Kom je bij mij langs om 9 uur? (Will you come by at my place around 9 o’clock?)
We ontmoeten elkaar bij de bushalte. (We’ll meet each other at the bus stop.)
Hij begon te lachen bij het horen van de grap. (He started laughing upon hearing the joke.)
“Voor” (Before)
The preposition “voor” is used to indicate time that is earlier than a particular event or moment.
Examples:
Ik moet vertrekken voor 10 uur. (I have to leave before 10 o’clock.)
De vergadering begint om 2 uur, dus we moeten er een halfuur voor zijn. (The meeting starts at 2 o’clock, so we need to be there half an hour before.)
Ze moeten het huiswerk inleveren voor maandag. (They have to hand in the homework before Monday.)
“Na” (After)
The preposition “na” is used to indicate time that is later than a particular event or moment.
Examples:
We spreken af na het avondeten. (Let’s meet up after dinner.)
De film begint na het nieuws. (The movie starts after the news.)
Ze zijn pas teruggekomen na twee weken vakantie. (They only returned after two weeks of vacation.)
“Tussen” (Between)
The preposition “tussen” is used to indicate a time period between two specific points or events.
Examples:
De winkel is open tussen 9 uur ‘s ochtends en 6 uur ‘s avonds. (The store is open between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m.)
We gaan op vakantie tussen kerst en oud en nieuw. (We are going on vacation between Christmas and New Year’s.)
Hij werkt van maandag tot en met vrijdag tussen 9 en 5. (He works from Monday to Friday between 9 and 5.)
“Sinds” (Since)
The preposition “sinds” is used to indicate the starting point of an action or event that is still ongoing.
Examples:
Ik woon hier al sinds 2010. (I have been living here since 2010.)
Hij werkt bij dit bedrijf sinds vorig jaar. (He has been working at this company since last year.)
Ze is gestopt met roken sinds drie maanden geleden. (She quit smoking three months ago.)
“Tot” (Until)
The preposition “tot” is used to indicate the endpoint of a period of time or an event.
Examples:
Het museum is open van 10 uur ‘s ochtends tot 5 uur ‘s middags. (The museum is open from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m.)
Ik blijf hier tot het donker wordt. (I’ll stay here until it gets dark.)
De aanbieding geldt tot volgende week vrijdag. (The offer is valid until next Friday.)
Common Expressions:
“Elke dag” (Every day): Ik ga elke dag naar de sportschool. (I go to the gym every day.)
“In de ochtend/middag/avond” (In the morning/afternoon/evening): Hij werkt altijd in de ochtend. (He always works in the morning.)
“Over een uur/dag/week” (In an hour/day/week): We hebben een vergadering over een uur. (We have a meeting in an hour.)
“Vandaag/morgen/overmorgen” (Today/tomorrow/the day after tomorrow): Ze komt vandaag op bezoek. (She’s coming to visit today.)
“Dit weekend/volgend weekend” (This weekend/next weekend): We gaan dit weekend naar het strand. (We are going to the beach this weekend.)
“Voor altijd” (Forever): Ik zal van je houden voor altijd. (I will love you forever.)
By understanding and practicing the usage of these Dutch prepositions of time, you will be able to accurately express time-related relationships in conversations, writing, and everyday interactions. Remember to pay attention to context and practice using these prepositions in different situations to further improve your language skills.
Originally posted 2023-07-14 14:33:29.