Introduction

This might sound a bit complex but it will become clearer when considering the following examples. The verb which features in the first column, lezen ('to read'), does not require a preposition, whereas the verb in the second column, luisteren ('to listen'), does. See how the presence of this preposition changes the way inanimate objects are referred to:

When comparing the examples above, it is clear that the examples in the column under luisteren naar are different from the ones under lezen. Er and waar in the second column occur with a phrasal verb (luisteren naar) and refer back to an inanimate object (de radio, het programma). They are pronominal adverbs. Lezen does not have a preposition in these examples, and is therefore accompanied by pronouns rather than pronominal adverbs.

Now look at the examples below, where the same phrasal verb (luisteren) is used in context with people (first column) and inanimate objects (second column).

From these examples, you can see the difference between referring to an inanimate object (radio) and a person (moeder) when a phrasal verb is used. When referring back to people, the preposition plus an object pronoun is used.

There are two further important characteristics of pronominal adverbs:

1. Where a pronominal adverb and a preposition occur together, the pronominal adverb and the preposition can normally be written as one word. However, it is a common feature of spoken Dutch to split up the pronominal adverb and the preposition.

2. There are three prepositions whose forms change when occurring as part of a pronominal adverb:

Note that naartoe and vandaan only occur when they are used in combination with the verbs gaan and komen (and other verbs expressing movement). In other combinations, e.g. with kijken naar, the preposition does not change: Ik kijk naar het boek. Waar kijk je naar?

To refer back to inanimate objects, personal pronouns (for example hem, het or haar) or demonstrative pronouns (for example dit or dat) are often used. This can only be done when the verb in the sentence does not require a preposition. If it does, pronominal adbverbs are needed.

This is illustrated below. In the column on the left are examples of sentences where one would use a personal pronoun (first example: hem) or demonstrative pronoun (second and third example: dat and dit) with a verb that does not require a preposition (zien, betalen, leuk vinden). In the second column you find a phrasal verb (zoeken naar, geld hebben voor, zin hebben in). Here, pronominal adverbs (er, daar, hier) are needed.

Note that the following are also possible:

Daarvoor hebben we geen geld.

Ik wil niet meer tennissen. Ik heb hierin geen zin meer.

As a rule of thumb one can say that:

In the column on the left are examples of sentences where one would use an interrogative pronoun (wat) with a verb that does not require a preposition (betalen, zijn). In the second column you find a phrasal verb (geld hebben voor, gaan over). Here, the interrogative pronominal adverb waar is needed.

Note that in spoken Dutch, it is common to split up waar and the preposition, even though the following are also possible:

Waarvoor hebben jullie geen geld?

Waarover gaat je scriptie?

Click here to read more about pronominal adverbs in the Advanced Dutch Grammar.