werkwoordvoorzetselcombinaties

Werkwoordvoorzetsel is a term in Dutch grammar describing a fixed combination of a verb with a preposition that forms a unit whose meaning is not predictable from the verb alone. In these expressions the preposition is an essential part of the meaning, and the complement of the preposition (a noun, pronoun, or clause) follows the preposition rather than directly after the verb.

Common features include:

- The verb and preposition form a lexical item that governs its own argument structure.

- The meaning of the whole expression often differs from the sum of its parts.

- The preposition typically governs a prepositional object, such as een zelfstandig naamwoord of pronoun, or a clause.

Examples of werkwoordvoorzetsels include:

- denken aan (to think of/about)

- wachten op (to wait for)

- luisteren naar (to listen to)

- reageren op (to react to)

- rekenen op (to count on)

- afhankelijk zijn van (to depend on)

- geloven in (to believe in)

- kijken naar (to look at)

Not all verb-preposition combinations are fixed; some verbs may be used with different prepositions to convey related but distinct meanings. Dictionaries and grammar references often list these expressions as units, sometimes marked as “werkwoordvoorzetsel” or by showing the verb together with its required preposition.

For learners, recognizing these constructions often requires memorization and exposure, as the meaning is frequently not deducible from the individual words. Correct usage is typically verified through dictionaries, corpus data, and standard reference grammars.