gebruikmakend

Gebruikmakend is a Dutch present participle form derived from the verb phrase gebruik maken van, meaning to make use of or to take advantage of. The construction is idiomatic and widely used in written Dutch to indicate that an action is performed by using something, such as resources, information, or opportunities.

Formation and function: gebruikmakend combines the noun gebruik (use) with the participle makend (from maken), forming a compound participle that can introduce an adverbial clause or act as a modifier. It is commonly found in sentences that describe the manner in which something happens, similar to English “using” or “utilizing.” For example: De spreker, gebruikmakend van statistieken, pleitte voor extra investeringen. (The speaker, using statistics, argued for additional investments.) The phrase can also appear after a comma to set off a subordinate clause.

Usage notes: gebruikmakend is more typical of formal or written Dutch. In everyday language, speakers often substitute with periphrastic alternatives such as door gebruik te maken van or door te gebruiken, depending on register and flow. Both forms convey the same idea of leveraging a resource or condition.

Related terms: the base verb is gebruiken (to use), with the common fixed expression gebruik maken van meaning “to take advantage of.” Synonyms in a broader sense include benutten (to utilize) and exploiteren (to exploit), though these carry different nuances and degrees of formality.

See also: Dutch grammar on participles (Participle I), and the construction gebruiken + te infinitief as an alternative form to express usage or method.

In summary, gebruikmakend functions as a formal present participle signaling that an action is carried out by using a resource or opportunity, most often in adverbial or attributive positions within a sentence.