waarmee/waarover
Asking with Waar + Preposition
In Dutch, you cannot say 'met wat' (with what) or 'over wat' (about what). Instead, you combine the word waar with the preposition to form a single word like waarmee or waarover.
How It Works
Dutch uses pronominal adverbs for questions involving things.
1. Formation:
Usually, you attach the preposition to the prefix waar-.
Note: While many prepositions combine, specific ones like sinds (since) or tijdens (during) stay separate: Sinds wat? Prepositions like zonder (without) mostly appear in the split form (Waar kun je niet zonder?); the combined form waarzonder is less usual.
2. Special Changes:
Some prepositions change their form when attached:
- met becomes mee → waarmee
- tot becomes toe → waartoe
- naar can become naartoe → waarnaartoe (specifically for direction/destination), though waarnaar is also standard for non-directional use (e.g., Waarnaar kijk je?).
- van usually becomes waarvan (of/about what). The form waarvandaan is used specifically for spatial origin (from where).
3. Splitting (The Natural Way):
In spoken Dutch, it is very common to split these words. The waar stays at the start of the question, and the preposition moves to the end of the middle field, just before the verbs at the end.
Example: Waar praat je over? (What are you talking about?) is more natural than Waarover praat je?
4. Relative Use:
These words also act as relative pronouns for things, meaning 'with which' or 'about which'.
Example: Het mes waarmee ik snij. (The knife with which I cut.)
Examples (5)
- Waarmee kan ik u helpen?
With what (How) can I help you?
Word by Word: Where-with can I you help?
This is a standard polite phrase in shops or services using the combined form 'waarmee'.
- Waar denk je aan?
What are you thinking about?
Word by Word: Where think you at?
This shows the 'split' version of 'waaraan', which is the most common way to ask this in daily life.
- Waarover hebben jullie gesproken?
What did you talk about?
Word by Word: Where-over have you-plural spoken?
A slightly more formal way to ask about a topic of conversation.
- Dit is de pen waarmee ik schrijf.
This is the pen I write with.
Word by Word: This is the pen where-with I write.
Here, 'waarmee' acts as a relative pronoun connecting the pen to the action.
- Waar lach je om?
What are you laughing at?
Word by Word: Where laugh you around?
Even though 'waarom' usually means 'why', when using the verb 'lachen om', you split it to ask 'at what'.
Common Mistakes
Using 'met wat' or 'over wat' literally from English.
Met wat schrijf je?Waarmee schrijf je?In standard Dutch, a bare 'wat' is not used after a preposition as a question word. Use the 'waar-' prefix: 'Waarmee schrijf je?'. 'Met wat voor pen schrijf je?' is fine, because 'wat voor' is a different phrase.
Using 'waarmee' when you mean 'with whom'.
Different MeaningWaarmee ga je naar de bioscoop?Met wie ga je naar de bioscoop?'Waarmee ga je naar de bioscoop?' is correct, but it asks how you go (by bike, by bus). To ask who goes with you, use the preposition plus 'wie': 'Met wie ga je...'
Forgetting the 'met' to 'mee' change.
Waarmet doe je dat?Waarmee doe je dat?The preposition 'met' always changes to 'mee' when combined with 'waar', 'er', or 'daar'.
How It Connects
Learn This First
To understand 'waarmee' and 'waarover', you first need to know how to form basic questions in Dutch. You also need to be familiar with the concept that many Dutch verbs are paired with specific prepositions. Finally, you should understand that when asking a question about an object involving a preposition, Dutch combines the word 'waar' with that preposition instead of using 'wat'.
- Questions With a Question Word
Understanding how to form questions with a question word is essential since 'waarmee/waarover' are interrogative pronominal adverbs used in question structures.
Level 1 - Fixed Verb-preposition Combinations
These question words are formed based on fixed verb-preposition combinations (e.g., praten over, schrijven met), so the learner must understand that certain verbs require specific prepositions.
Level 3 - waarWhere
The pattern is built using 'waar' as a prefix to replace a thing in a prepositional phrase, so the basic interrogative 'waar' must be understood first.
Level 1
Related Patterns
- ervan/ermee/erin/eropCommon Er Combinations
This is the statement version (e.g., 'therewith') of the 'waar-' question pattern.
Level 3 - daarmee/hiermeeDaarmee, Hiervoor, Daarover
These are the demonstrative versions ('with that' / 'with this') of the same pronominal adverb system.
Level 3 - Preposition + wieRelative for People + Prep
This is the equivalent pattern used when asking about people instead of things.
Level 3 - waar + PrepositionRelative with Preposition
This is the general category for relative pronouns referring to things.
Level 3 - mee/toeMee and Toe
Explains why 'met' and 'tot' change their forms when combined with other words.
Level 3
Words in This Pattern
Practice waarmee/waarover in Bubblegum
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