Fixed Dutch verb-preposition pairs: wachten op (to wait for), denken aan (to think of)
Learn Dutch verb-preposition pairs as one unit, keep the preposition with the same meaning, and distinguish it from a separable verb part.
Ik wacht op de uitslag. (I am waiting for the result.) For this meaning, wachten selects op. The verb and preposition form a fixed pair, so the English word “for” does not determine the Dutch preposition.
The verb, preposition and meaning form one learning unit
Learn wachten op (to wait for), not just wachten. Write the verb and preposition as separate words. Change the verb form to match the subject and tense; keep the selected preposition when you express the same meaning.
- Record the complete pair and its meaning: luisteren naar (to listen to).
- Add a sentence with the person or thing after the preposition: Sam luistert naar de radio. (Sam listens to the radio.)
- Change the tense without changing the selected preposition: Ik wacht op de bus. Ik wachtte op de bus. Ik heb op de bus gewacht. (I wait for the bus. I waited for the bus. I have waited for the bus.)
| Verb + preposition | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| luisteren naar | to listen to | Sam luistert naar de radio. (Sam listens to the radio.) |
| denken aan | to think of, to have in mind | Ik denk aan onze afspraak. (I am thinking of our appointment.) |
| vertrouwen op | to rely on | We vertrouwen op de planning. (We rely on the schedule.) |
| verlangen naar | to long for | Na de winter verlang ik naar de lente. (After winter, I long for spring.) |
| houden van | to love, to like | Mijn buurvrouw houdt van tuinieren. (My neighbour loves gardening.) |
| deelnemen aan | to take part in | Morgen nemen we deel aan de training. (Tomorrow we take part in the training.) |
| klagen over | to complain about | De bewoners klagen over de rook. (The residents complain about the smoke.) |
| wachten op | to wait for | Noor wacht op haar uitslag. (Noor is waiting for her result.) |
| zorgen voor | to take care of | Hij zorgt voor zijn zieke vader. (He takes care of his sick father.) |
| lijken op | to resemble, to look like | Deze tas lijkt op de mijne. (This bag looks like mine.) |
Deelnemen aan combines a separable verb with a fixed preposition. The main clause is Wij nemen deel aan de cursus. (We take part in the course.) Here, deel is the separable verb part of deelnemen. The fixed preposition aan introduces de cursus.
Fixed names the preposition choice, not an obligatory phrase
Ik wacht al uren. (I have been waiting for hours.) is a complete sentence. When you name the person or thing, wachten uses op: Ik wacht op de bus. (I am waiting for the bus.) Fixed means that the preposition is selected for this use of the verb. It does not mean that the whole prepositional phrase must always be present.
A verb can select another construction for another meaning. Ik moet steeds aan mijn oma denken. (I keep thinking of my grandmother.) uses denken aan. Ik moet nog even over het voorstel denken. (I still need to consider the proposal.) uses denken over. Store the meaning with the pair.
A fixed preposition and a separable verb part do different jobs
A fixed preposition introduces a person or thing after the verb. A separable verb part belongs to the verb itself and moves according to the rules for separable verbs. Some sentences contain both.
| Pattern | Main clause | How to analyse it |
|---|---|---|
| Fixed preposition: wachten op | Ik wacht op Noor. (I am waiting for Noor.) | op introduces Noor; it is not part of wachten |
| Separable verb part: opbellen | Ik bel Noor op. (I call Noor.) | op belongs to the verb opbellen |
| Both: nadenken over | Ik denk na over het aanbod. (I am considering the offer.) | na belongs to nadenken; over introduces het aanbod |
Noun phrases follow the preposition; thing pronouns use er, daar or waar
Ik vertrouw op het plan. (I rely on the plan.) and Ik denk aan dat voorstel. (I am thinking about that proposal.) are ordinary preposition + noun phrases. Het is the article before plan, and dat accompanies voorstel. Both stay after the preposition.
A pronoun is bare when it stands alone, without a noun after it. When that pronoun refers to a thing or situation, Dutch normally uses er, daar or waar plus the preposition. Do not normally use bare het, dat or wat in this pattern.
| Job | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Refer back to a thing | er + preposition | Ik vertrouw op het plan → Ik vertrouw erop. (I rely on it.) Ze denkt er vaak aan. (She often thinks about it.) |
| Point to a specific thing | daar + preposition | Ik denk aan dat voorstel → Ik denk daaraan. (I am thinking about that.) |
| Ask about a thing | waar + preposition | Waarop wacht je? or Waar wacht je op? (What are you waiting for?) |
| Link a relative clause to a thing | waar + preposition | de trein waarop we wachten or de trein waar we op wachten (the train we are waiting for). See waarmee and waarover. |
| Refer to a person | preposition + personal pronoun | Ik wacht op mijn broer → Ik wacht op hem. (I am waiting for him.) |
The pronoun-like word and preposition can stand together or have other words between them. Write them as one word when they are adjacent: erop, daaraan, waarop. Write them separately when other words intervene: er vaak aan, waar we op wachten. This page shows the consequence for fixed pairs; er + a preposition covers the full pattern.
The Dutch pair determines the preposition
English “for” can lead to wachten voor, and English “in” can lead to deelnemen in. For these meanings, use wachten op and deelnemen aan. Learn luisteren naar even though English uses “to”. The core prepositions page explains what prepositions mean on their own; the verb-preposition pair tells you which one this verb selects.
- Fill in the blank: *Ik wacht ___ de bus.* (I am waiting for the bus.)
- *voor*
- *op*
- *aan*
- *naar*
The fixed pair for this meaning is *wachten op* (to wait for). English “for” does not make Dutch *voor* correct.
- Fill in the blank: *We luisteren ___ muziek.* (We listen to music.)
- *aan*
- *naar*
- *op*
- *van*
The fixed pair is *luisteren naar* (to listen to). Learn the Dutch preposition with the verb instead of translating English “to”.
- Which sentence means “They take part in the meeting”?
- *Ze nemen deel aan de vergadering.*
- *Ze nemen deel in de vergadering.*
- *Ze nemen deel op de vergadering.*
- *Ze nemen deel voor de vergadering.*
*Deelnemen aan* means to take part in: *Ze nemen deel aan de vergadering.* *Deel* is the separable verb part, while *aan* introduces the meeting.
- In *Ik vertrouw op het plan*, replace the words *op het plan* with a pronoun construction that refers back to the plan. Which sentence results?
- *Ik vertrouw op het.*
- *Ik vertrouw het op.*
- *Ik vertrouw erop.*
- *Ik vertrouw opet.*
In *op het plan*, *het* is an article because *plan* follows. To refer back to the plan, use *er* with the fixed preposition *op*. The two parts are adjacent here, so write *erop*: *Ik vertrouw erop.*
- Fill in the blank: *Ik denk vaak ___ jou.* (I often think of you.)
- *over*
- *aan*
- *op*
- *van*
Use *denken aan* when someone is in your thoughts: *Ik denk aan jou.* Use *nadenken over* when you consider or reflect on something.
Test yourself
Question 1 of 5
Fill in the blank: Ik wacht ___ de bus. (I am waiting for the bus.)