Dutch Grammar Quiz: Referring Back to Things (Verwijzen naar dingen)

When a thing (not a person) has already been mentioned, Dutch replaces preposition + noun with a single er-word — for example erin (in it), erop (on it), eronder (under it). These are called pronominal adverbs.

Key rules for Referring Back to Things

How er-words are formed

Take the preposition and add er in front of it: er + in = erin, er + op = erop, er + aan = eraan. The er-word replaces "preposition + de/het + noun" when the noun is already known.

Er-words can be split

In spoken Dutch and in longer sentences, the er-word is often split: er moves to after the verb, and the preposition stays near the noun or at the end.

Examples

Waar is de sleutel? — Hij zit erin. (= in de la) — Where is the key? — It is in it. (= in the drawer)
Heb je de lamp gezien? — Ja, ik heb erop gelet. (= op de lamp) — Did you see the lamp? — Yes, I paid attention to it.
De vaas? Er staat een bloem in. → Er staat een bloem erin. — The vase? There is a flower in it.
De sleutels liggen erin. — The keys are in it.
De vaas staat erop. — The vase is on it.
De dozen staan eronder. — The boxes are under it.

Practice: Referring Back to Things

Key rules for Referring Back to Things

Examples

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Practice: Referring Back to Things

Key rules for Referring Back to Things

Examples

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