ervan/ermee/erin/erop

Common Er Combinations

Level 3

In Dutch, you cannot say 'with it' (met het) or 'on it' (op het). Instead, you must use a pronominal adverb: er + the preposition (e.g., ermee, erop).

How It Works

Dutch grammar has a specific rule for referring to things: prepositions are generally not followed by third-person object pronouns like hem (it), haar (it), het (it), or ze (them) when they refer to inanimate objects. Instead, Dutch uses pronominal adverbs.

1. The Transformation
For inanimate objects, you typically use er + preposition. While informal speech occasionally uses hem for de-words, using er is the standard and preferred form for all genders. For het-words and plural objects (ze), using er is mandatory.

  • op de tafel (on the table) → erop (on it)
  • in het boek (in the book) → erin (in it)
  • van de plannen (of the plans) → ervan (of them)

2. Special Forms
Two common prepositions change their spelling when combined with er:

  • met becomes mee (e.g., ermee)
  • tot becomes toe (e.g., ertoe)

3. Splitting (Word Order)
In the middle field of a sentence, er and the preposition often split. In a main clause, er stays close to the conjugated verb. In a subordinate clause, er typically follows the subject.
Example (Main): *Ik wacht er al een uur op.* (I have been waiting for it for an hour.)
Example (Subclause): *...omdat ik er al een uur op wacht.* (...because I have been waiting for it for an hour.)

4. The Wider System
This same logic applies to other locative words. Just as er replaces het, hier (here) and daar (there) combine with prepositions to form words like hiermee (with this) or daarop (on that). Similarly, waar is used for questions: waarin (in what).

Examples (5)

  1. Ik reken erop.

    I am counting on it.

    Word by Word: I count there-on.

    The verb 'rekenen op' (to count on) combines with 'er' to mean 'on it'.

  2. Wat doe je ermee?

    What are you doing with it?

    Word by Word: What do you there-with?

    Note that 'met' changes to 'mee' when combined with 'er'.

  3. We hebben er gisteren lang over gepraat.

    We talked about it for a long time yesterday.

    Word by Word: We have there yesterday long about talked.

    This shows the 'split' where 'er' and 'over' are separated by other information.

  4. Ik zit erin.

    I am in it.

    Word by Word: I sit there-in.

    A simple combination of 'er' and 'in' to refer to a car, a house, or a box.

  5. Hij is ervan overtuigd.

    He is convinced of it.

    Word by Word: He is there-of convinced.

    The fixed expression 'overtuigd van' (convinced of) uses 'ervan' to refer to the idea.

Common Mistakes

  • Using 'met het' instead of 'ermee'.

    Ik schrijf met het.
    Ik schrijf ermee.

    You cannot use 'met' followed by 'het'. You must use the pronominal adverb form 'ermee'.

  • Using 'er' + preposition to refer to a person.

    Different MeaningIk praat ermee.
    Ik praat met hem.

    'Ik praat ermee' is correct, but 'ermee' refers to a thing or an idea, so it cannot mean 'I talk with him'. For people, use the preposition and a personal pronoun.

  • Forgetting to change 'met' to 'mee'.

    Ik ben ermet gestopt.
    Ik ben ermee gestopt.

    When 'met' is part of a pronominal adverb, it always changes to 'mee'.

How It Connects

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ervan/ermee/erin/eropLevel 3Common Er Combinations

Learn This First

To understand common 'er' combinations, you first need to understand the general rule of prepositional 'er' (where 'er' replaces 'het' or 'dat' in a prepositional phrase). You also need to be familiar with the basic prepositions themselves, as some change form when combined (like 'met' becoming '-mee').

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Words in This Pattern

vanmee