door (passief)
Agent in Passive
In passive sentences, the preposition door (by) marks the agent—the person or entity responsible for the action.
How It Works
The passive voice shifts focus from the 'doer' to the 'receiver' of an action. In Dutch, this is usually formed with the auxiliary verb worden (for processes) or zijn (for states).
1. The Role of 'Door'
The preposition door identifies the agent. For example:
Active: De bakker bakt het brood. (The baker bakes the bread.)
Passive: Het brood wordt door de bakker gebakken. (The bread is being baked by the baker.)
2. Word Order
In a standard main clause, the door-phrase usually appears in the middle field. This means it sits between the conjugated verb (like wordt) and the past participle at the end of the sentence. While it can sometimes be placed after the participle for emphasis, the middle field is the most natural position.
3. Agent vs. Instrument
A common point of confusion for English speakers is the difference between an agent and a tool. Dutch uses door for the agent (the person or cause) but uses met for the instrument (the tool used).
Example: De brief is door hem geschreven (agent) vs. De brief is met een pen geschreven (instrument).
4. Register
Passive constructions are very common in formal writing, news reports, and academic texts. In daily speech, Dutch speakers often prefer active sentences or generic subjects like je, ze, or the more formal men.
Examples (4)
- De nieuwe wet wordt door het parlement besproken.
The new law is being discussed by parliament.
Word by Word: The new law becomes by the parliament discussed.
Here, 'het parlement' is the agent performing the action of discussing.
- Dit schilderij is door Rembrandt geschilderd.
This painting was painted by Rembrandt.
Word by Word: This painting is by Rembrandt painted.
In the perfect tense, 'door' still identifies the creator/agent.
- Het pakketje moet door de bewoner worden aangenomen.
The package must be accepted by the resident.
Word by Word: The package must by the resident become accepted.
When using a modal verb like 'moeten', the 'door'-phrase remains in the middle field.
- De stad werd door een storm verwoest.
The city was destroyed by a storm.
Word by Word: The city became by a storm destroyed.
Even inanimate causes (like a storm) use 'door' if they are the direct cause of the action.
Common Mistakes
Using 'door' for instruments or tools.
Ik schrijf de brief door een pen.Ik schrijf de brief met een pen.Use 'met' for tools (with a pen) and 'door' only for the agent (by a person/cause).
Using 'door' for authorship of a noun (without a verb).
Een boek door Harry Mulisch.Een boek van Harry Mulisch.If you are just naming the author of a book or film without a passive verb, use 'van'. Use 'door' only if you include the verb: 'geschreven door'.
Using 'bij' to translate the English agentive 'by'.
Het huis is gebouwd bij mijn vader.Het huis is gebouwd door mijn vader.English speakers often use 'bij' because it sounds like 'by', but 'bij' means 'near' or 'at'. 'Door' is the correct agent marker.
How It Connects
Learn This First
To express who is performing the action in a passive sentence, you need to understand the basic passive construction with 'worden' and the past participle. You then use the preposition 'door' (by) followed by the agent, which requires knowledge of object pronouns if the agent is not a noun.
- worden + Past ParticiplePassive with Worden
The 'passive door' pattern is an extension of the basic passive construction using 'worden'. Learners must first understand how to form the passive voice before adding an agent.
Level 3 - mij/jou/hem/haarObject Pronouns
When the agent in a passive sentence is a pronoun, it must take the object form after the preposition 'door'.
Level 1
Related Patterns
- Passive with Zijn (State)
Used for the stative passive (the result), which can also occasionally take a 'door'-phrase.
Level 4 - metWith
Often confused with 'door'; 'met' is used for instruments/tools, while 'door' is for agents.
Level 1 - vanOf/From
Used to show possession or authorship (a book 'of' someone) when no passive verb is present.
Level 1 - The Middle Field
The 'door'-phrase is typically placed in the middle field of the Dutch sentence.
Level 3 - Passive Without a Subject
A specific type of passive construction in Dutch that often omits the agent entirely.
Level 4
Learn Next
Patterns that build on this one.
Words in This Pattern
Practice door (passief) in Bubblegum
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