aan + Indirect Object

Indirect Object with Aan

Level 3

The 'aan-dative' is a way to mark the recipient of an action using the preposition aan. While you can often just place the recipient before the object (e.g., 'Ik geef hem het boek'), using aan (e.g., 'Ik geef het boek aan hem') adds clarity and emphasis.

How It Works

The aan-dative is a fundamental part of Dutch object order. It is used with ditransitive verbs—verbs that involve giving, telling, or showing something to someone.

1. When to use 'aan':

  • Emphasis: Placing the recipient at the end of the sentence with aan highlights who is receiving the item. This is the primary reason to use this construction.
  • Complexity: If the recipient is a long phrase (e.g., 'aan de man met de rode hoed'), it is easier to put it at the end of the sentence.
  • Pronoun Emphasis: While the standard way to use two pronouns is the pronoun cluster (e.g., Ik geef het hem), you use aan if you want to stress the person (e.g., Ik geef het aan hém).

2. Word Order and the 'Pronoun Leap':
In a bare construction (without aan), the indirect object usually comes before the direct object (Ik geef de man het boek). However, if the direct object is a pronoun like het, it must 'leap' ahead of the indirect object, regardless of whether that indirect object is a noun (Ik geef het de man) or another pronoun (Ik geef het hem). Because this 'leap' can feel clunky, using the aan-phrase is often a clearer alternative: Ik geef het aan de man.

3. Important Exceptions:
Not all ditransitive verbs allow the aan construction. Verbs like kosten (to cost) and leren (to teach) are exceptions. You must say Het kost mij tien euro (It costs me ten euros) and never aan mij. Similarly, with leren, you say Ik leer hem de taal. However, note that the separable verb aanleren (to teach/instill a skill) is a different verb: Ik leer de studenten de techniek aan.

4. Specific Pronoun Rules:
When using the third-person plural 'them' as a recipient, you must use hen after aan (e.g., aan hen), whereas hun is used for the bare version. In informal spoken Dutch, the short pronoun form ze is frequently used as an unstressed alternative for both hen and hun.

Examples (4)

  1. De leraar legt de grammatica uit aan de studenten.

    The teacher explains the grammar to the students.

    Word by Word: The teacher lays the grammar out to the students.

    Here, 'aan' identifies the students as the recipients of the explanation. Note that the direct object 'de grammatica' comes before the 'aan' phrase.

  2. Zij heeft het geheim aan mij verteld.

    She told the secret to me.

    Word by Word: She has the secret to me told.

    Using 'aan mij' at the end emphasizes that I was the one she told, rather than someone else.

  3. Kun je deze brief aan de directeur geven?

    Can you give this letter to the director?

    Word by Word: Can you this letter to the director give?

    In this question, the direct object 'deze brief' precedes the recipient 'de directeur'.

  4. Ik geef het aan hen.

    I give it to them.

    Word by Word: I give it to them.

    When using 'aan' with the plural 'them', we must use the form 'hen'.

Common Mistakes

  • Mixing the bare indirect object and the 'aan' construction.

    Ik geef hem het boek aan Jan.
    Ik geef het boek aan Jan.

    You must choose one: either 'Ik geef Jan het boek' (bare) or 'Ik geef het boek aan Jan'. Do not use both the recipient pronoun and the 'aan' phrase together.

  • Using 'aan' for favors instead of 'voor'.

    Ik doe de afwas aan jou.
    Ik doe de afwas voor jou.

    Use 'aan' for transfer or communication (giving/telling). Use 'voor' when doing a favor or service for someone.

  • Following English word order with two pronouns.

    Ik geef hem het.
    Ik geef het aan hem.

    In English, we say 'I give him it'. In Dutch, if you use two pronouns, you should either say 'Ik geef het hem' or use the clearer 'aan' construction: 'Ik geef het aan hem'.

How It Connects

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aan + Indirect ObjectLevel 3Indirect Object with Aan

Learn This First

To use the indirect object with 'aan', you first need to understand the basic preposition 'aan' and how objects are typically ordered in a Dutch sentence. This pattern allows you to place the receiver (indirect object) after the thing being given (direct object) by using the preposition 'aan'.

Words in This Pattern

aan