langs

Along/Past

Level 2

The preposition langs is used for spatial movement. It translates to both 'along' (following a line) and 'past' (passing a point). It is also the standard way to say you are 'visiting' or 'dropping by' someone.

How It Works

The preposition langs is a high-frequency spatial marker in Dutch. Its usage can be broken down into these main categories:

1. Movement Along a Line
When you move parallel to something long, like a river, a road, or a wall, you use langs.
Example: We wandelen langs het strand (We are walking along the beach).

2. Static Position Along a Boundary
Unlike some other movement prepositions, langs can be used for static objects if they are arranged parallel to a line or edge.
Example: Er staan veel bomen langs de weg (There are many trees along the road).

3. Movement Past a Point
In English, we say 'past the station.' In Dutch, langs indicates you are passing a specific landmark on your route.
Example: Ik rijd elke dag langs dat gebouw (I drive past that building every day).

4. Via or Through a Specific Route
Langs is often used to mean 'via,' especially when referring to specific entrances.
Example: Ga maar langs de achterdeur naar binnen (Go inside via the back door).

5. Visiting or Dropping By
In a social context, langs is used with langskomen (to come by) or langsgaan (to go by) for informal visits.
Example: Ik ga even langs bij mijn moeder (I'm just dropping by my mother's).

Advanced Tip: Langs... heen
Dutch often uses the circumposition langs... heen to mean 'past' or 'missing' something entirely. For example, Hij liep langs mij heen means he walked right past me (perhaps without noticing).

Examples (5)

  1. De wandelaars liepen langs het kanaal.

    The hikers walked along the canal.

    Word by Word: The hikers walked along the canal.

    Here, 'langs' describes movement parallel to the length of the canal.

  2. Rijd niet te snel langs die geparkeerde auto's.

    Don't drive too fast past those parked cars.

    Word by Word: Drive not too fast past those parked cars.

    In this context, 'langs' means 'past' or 'alongside' the cars.

  3. Kom je vanavond even langs voor een kopje koffie?

    Will you drop by this evening for a cup of coffee?

    Word by Word: Come you tonight just past for a cup coffee?

    This uses the separable verb 'langskomen' to mean a casual visit.

  4. Er staat een hek langs de weg.

    There is a fence along the road.

    Word by Word: There stands a fence along the road.

    This shows 'langs' used for position (static) rather than just movement.

  5. Ik liep erlangs, maar ik zag niets.

    I walked past it, but I saw nothing.

    Word by Word: I walked there-past, but I saw nothing.

    This demonstrates the pronominal form 'erlangs' (past it).

Common Mistakes

  • Using 'langs' for 'next to' when referring to a single person or object.

    Ik zit langs mijn vriend.
    Ik zit naast mijn vriend.

    While 'langs' can describe static objects positioned along a boundary (like a fence along a road), you should use naast when you are simply sitting or standing next to someone or something.

  • Using 'langs' when you mean going through.

    Different MeaningIk loop langs de tunnel.
    Ik loop door de tunnel.

    'Ik loop langs de tunnel' is correct, but it means you walk along the outside of the tunnel. If you enter one side and come out the other, use door.

  • Incorrect word order with the separable verb 'langskomen'.

    Ik langskom vanavond.
    Ik kom vanavond langs.

    When used as a verb, 'langs' is a separable prefix. In a main clause, the verb stem stays in the second position and 'langs' moves to the end. See separable verb word order.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

langsLevel 2Along/Past

Learn This First

To understand 'langs' (along/past), you should first be comfortable with basic Dutch prepositions of place and direction, as well as how to form simple sentences using nouns and articles.

Words in This Pattern

langs