Prepositions are important parts of speech that help establish relationships between different elements in a sentence. In Dutch, there are several simple prepositions that are used to indicate location, time, direction, and other relationships. This introduction will provide a brief and accurate overview of Dutch simple prepositions for total beginners, along with example sentences to facilitate understanding.
In (in, at, on)
The preposition “in” is used to indicate being inside or within a place or object. It can also be translated as “at” or “on” in certain contexts. Take a look at the following examples:
Ik woon in Nederland. (I live in the Netherlands.)
De sleutel ligt in de la. (The key is in the drawer.)
Hij is in het park. (He is in the park.)
We ontmoeten elkaar in het restaurant. (We’ll meet each other at the restaurant.)
Op (on, upon)
The preposition “op” is primarily used to indicate being on or upon something. Here are a few examples:
De kat zit op de tafel. (The cat is on the table.)
Het cadeau ligt op het bed. (The present is on the bed.)
Hij stond op de ladder. (He stood on the ladder.)
We gaan op vakantie. (We’re going on vacation.)
Naar (to)
The preposition “naar” is used to indicate movement towards a specific place. It is equivalent to the English preposition “to.” Consider the following examples:
Ik ga naar school. (I’m going to school.)
Ze loopt naar de winkel. (She’s walking to the store.)
Hij reist naar Frankrijk. (He’s traveling to France.)
We gaan naar het strand. (We’re going to the beach.)
Van (from)
The preposition “van” is used to indicate movement or origin from a specific place. It can be translated as “from” in English. Here are some examples:
Ik kom van het werk. (I’m coming from work.)
De brief is van mijn moeder. (The letter is from my mother.)
Hij komt van school. (He’s coming from school.)
We hebben veel geleerd van de cursus. (We learned a lot from the course.)
Bij (at, near, with)
The preposition “bij” has multiple meanings and can be translated as “at,” “near,” or “with” depending on the context. Here are a few examples:
Ze werkt bij een bank. (She works at a bank.)
Hij woont bij het station. (He lives near the train station.)
Ik ben bij mijn vrienden. (I’m with my friends.)
We moeten bij de ingang wachten. (We have to wait at the entrance.)
Voor (in front of, for)
The preposition “voor” is used to indicate being in front of something or someone. It can also be translated as “for” in certain contexts. Consider the following examples:
De auto staat voor het huis. (The car is in front of the house.)
Hij kocht bloemen voor zijn moeder. (He bought flowers for his mother.)
Ze heeft een cadeau voor haar vriend. (She has a gift for her boyfriend.)
We moeten op tijd zijn voor de vergadering. (We need to be on time for the meeting.)
Achter (behind)
The preposition “achter” is used to indicate being behind something or someone. Here are a few examples:
Hij verstopte zich achter de deur. (He hid behind the door.)
Het boek ligt achter de computer. (The book is behind the computer.)
Ze loopt achter haar vriend aan. (She’s walking behind her friend.)
We zitten achter in de bus. (We’re sitting in the back of the bus.)
Tussen (between)
The preposition “tussen” is used to indicate being between two or more things or people. Take a look at the following examples:
De hond zit tussen de twee stoelen. (The dog is sitting between the two chairs.)
Het dorp ligt tussen de bergen. (The village is situated between the mountains.)
Ze staat tussen haar ouders in. (She’s standing between her parents.)
We moeten een beslissing nemen tussen de twee opties. (We have to make a decision between the two options.)
Met (with)
The preposition “met” is primarily used to indicate being with someone or something. It can also be translated as “by” or “using” in certain contexts. Consider the following examples:
Ik ga met mijn vrienden naar de bioscoop. (I’m going to the cinema with my friends.)
Hij schrijft met een pen. (He’s writing with a pen.)
Ze wonen met hun ouders. (They live with their parents.)
We hebben het probleem met de computer opgelost. (We solved the problem with the computer.)
These examples provide a basic understanding of Dutch simple prepositions and their usage. It’s important to note that prepositions can have different meanings and translations depending on the context, so it’s essential to consider the overall sentence structure and intended meaning. With practice and exposure to more examples, beginners can become more comfortable using these prepositions in their Dutch language journey.
Originally posted 2023-07-14 14:43:02.