Introduction: Prepositional Partners

Many Dutch verbs require a specific, fixed preposition to connect them to their object or to complete their meaning. These verb-preposition combinations often don't directly translate word-for-word from English and must be learned as units.

For example, in English we say "wait for", but in Dutch it's wachten op. We say "think about/of", but it can be denken aan.

Using the wrong preposition can change the meaning or simply sound incorrect.

Common Verbs with Fixed Prepositions

Here is a list of common B1-level verbs and the prepositions they typically take. It's essential to memorize these combinations.

• houden van: to love, to like (people, things, activities)
• Ik houd van jou. (I love you.)
• Zij houdt van chocolade. (She loves chocolate.)
• Wij houden van wandelen. (We love hiking.)
• wachten op: to wait for
• Ik wacht op de bus. (I am waiting for the bus.)
• Op wie wacht je? (Who are you waiting for?)
• denken aan: to think about/of (remembering, contemplating)
• Ik denk vaak aan mijn vakantie. (I often think about my holiday.)
• Denk aan je sleutels! (Remember your keys!)
• (Compare: denken over - to have an opinion about)
• praten over / met: to talk about / with
• We praten over het weer. (We are talking about the weather.)
• Ik praat met mijn vriendin. (I am talking with my friend.)
• spreken over / met: to speak about / with (similar to praten, slightly more formal)
• De directeur sprak over de toekomst. (The director spoke about the future.)
• Kunnen we met u spreken? (Can we speak with you?)
• kijken naar: to look at, to watch
• Hij kijkt naar de televisie. (He is watching television.)
• Kijk naar die mooie vogel! (Look at that beautiful bird!)
• luisteren naar: to listen to
• Ik luister graag naar muziek. (I like listening to music.)
• Luister naar mij! (Listen to me!)
• zoeken naar: to search for, to look for
• Zij zoekt naar haar bril. (She is looking for her glasses.)
• Wat zoek je naar? (What are you looking for?)
• vragen naar: to ask about/for (information)
• Hij vraagt naar de weg. (He asks for the way.)
• (Compare: vragen om - to ask for something specific to receive) Hij vraagt om hulp. (He asks for help.)
• beginnen met: to begin with/start
• We beginnen met hoofdstuk 1. (We begin with chapter 1.)
• Wanneer begin je met je nieuwe baan? (When do you start your new job?)
• stoppen met: to stop (doing something)
• Hij is gestopt met roken. (He has stopped smoking.)
• Stop met klagen! (Stop complaining!)
• rekenen op: to count on, to rely on
• Ik reken op jouw hulp. (I am counting on your help.)
• Je kunt op mij rekenen. (You can count on me.)
• geloven in: to believe in
• Zij gelooft in spoken. (She believes in ghosts.)
• Geloof je in jezelf? (Do you believe in yourself?)
• genieten van: to enjoy
• Wij genieten van het mooie weer. (We are enjoying the nice weather.)
• Geniet van je vakantie! (Enjoy your holiday!)
• lachen om: to laugh about/at
• We moesten lachen om zijn grap. (We had to laugh at his joke.)
• Waarom lach je om mij? (Why are you laughing at me?)
• trouwen met: to marry (someone)
• Zij is getrouwd met een Nederlander. (She is married to a Dutchman.)
• verlangen naar: to long for, to desire
• Ik verlang naar de zomer. (I am longing for the summer.)
• zorgen voor: to take care of, to provide for
• De moeder zorgt voor haar kinderen. (The mother takes care of her children.)
• twijfelen aan: to doubt
• Ik twijfel aan zijn verhaal. (I doubt his story.)

Using Pronominal Adverbs (er + preposition)

When the object of the preposition is a thing or concept (not a person) and you want to replace it with a pronoun, you use the er + preposition structure (pronominal adverb - see Chapter 8).

• Ik wacht op de bus. -> Ik wacht erop. (I'm waiting for it.)
• Ik denk aan de vakantie. -> Ik denk eraan. (I'm thinking about it.)
• We praten over het probleem. -> We praten erover. (We're talking about it.)
• Geniet je van de maaltijd? -> Geniet je ervan? (Are you enjoying it?)

If the object is a person, you use preposition + personal pronoun (object form).

• Ik wacht op hem. (I'm waiting for him.)
• Ik denk aan haar. (I'm thinking of her.)
• Ik praat met hen. (I'm talking with them.)

Finding the Right Preposition

• Memorization: Active study and practice are key.
• Dictionaries: Good dictionaries list fixed prepositions for verbs.
• Exposure: Reading and listening to Dutch helps you absorb these patterns naturally.

Verbs with fixed prepositions are a core part of Dutch grammar. Don't try to translate prepositions directly from your native language. Instead, learn the verb and its prepositional partner(s) as a single unit. Pay special attention to common verbs like houden van, wachten op, denken aan, praten over/met, kijken/luisteren naar, beginnen/stoppen met, and genieten van. Remember to use pronominal adverbs (erop, eraan, etc.) when referring back to things.