door

Through/By

Level 1

Door is a high-frequency Dutch preposition used to describe physical movement through a space, the agent in a passive sentence (by), or the cause of an event (because of).

How It Works

The preposition door is essential for Level 1 learners because it appears in several distinct contexts:

  • Spatial Movement: It describes moving from one side of an area to another. Unlike langs (which means 'past' or 'along'), door implies you are inside the space.
    Example: door het bos (through the forest).
  • Directions: It is used in the common direction rechtdoor (straight ahead).
  • The Passive Agent: In passive sentences, door identifies who performed the action. This is equivalent to 'by' in English.
    Example: De taart is door hem gebakken (The cake was baked by him).
  • Cause vs. Reason: Door explains a direct physical cause. Note that for a 'reason' (a human decision or circumstance), Dutch often uses vanwege (e.g., afgelast vanwege de regen).
    Example: Door de regen werd ik nat (Because of the rain I got wet).
  • Mathematics: It is used for division.
    Example: acht gedeeld door twee (eight divided by two).
  • During (Time): It is used to mean 'during' or 'in the course of', most commonly in the phrase door de week (during the week / on weekdays).
  • Separable Verbs: As a prefix in separable verbs, it can mean 'to continue' or literally 'through'.
    Example: We gaan door (We continue).
  • Duration (Post-position): When placed after a time period, it means 'throughout'.
    Example: het hele jaar door (throughout the whole year).

Important Distinctions:
1. Agent vs. Instrument: Use door for the person or cause, but use met for the tool used (e.g., met een pen).
2. Positive Outcomes: While door is neutral or negative, use dankzij (thanks to) for positive causes.
3. Pronominal Adverbs: When referring to 'it', it becomes erdoor. When referring to 'that' (meaning 'because of that'), use daardoor. The relative form is waardoor (because of which).
4. By doing: To say 'by [verb]-ing', use door ... te + infinitive. For a separable verb, 'te' goes in the middle.
Example: door af te wassen (by washing up).

Examples (6)

  1. Wij lopen door het park.

    We are walking through the park.

    Word by Word: We walk through the park.

    This shows the basic spatial use of 'door' indicating movement within a space.

  2. De brief is door mijn vader geschreven.

    The letter was written by my father.

    Word by Word: The letter is by my father written.

    Here, 'door' marks the agent (the person doing the action) in a passive sentence.

  3. Door de harde wind viel de boom om.

    Because of the strong wind, the tree fell down.

    Word by Word: Through the hard wind fell the tree down.

    This demonstrates 'door' as a direct cause. The wind physically caused the tree to fall.

  4. Je leert veel door te oefenen.

    You learn a lot by practicing.

    Word by Word: You learn much through to practice.

    This uses the 'door ... te' construction to show the means by which something is achieved.

  5. Ik kijk door het raam.

    I am looking through the window.

    Word by Word: I look through the window.

    Another spatial example, showing sight passing through a physical object.

  6. Acht gedeeld door twee is vier.

    Eight divided by two is four.

    Word by Word: Eight divided through two is four.

    In mathematics, 'door' is used to express division.

Common Mistakes

  • Using 'door' for transport instead of 'met'.

    Ik ga door de trein naar Amsterdam.
    Ik ga met de trein naar Amsterdam.

    English speakers often use 'door' because of the English 'by train', but in Dutch, you must use met for modes of transport.

  • Using 'van' instead of 'door' for the agent in a passive sentence.

    Het boek is van hem geschreven.
    Het boek is door hem geschreven.

    Learners often translate 'by' as 'van' (of) or 'bij' (at), but Dutch strictly uses 'door' for the person performing the action in the passive voice.

  • Forgetting 'te' in the 'by doing' construction.

    Door oefenen leer je.
    Door te oefenen leer je.

    When 'door' is followed by a verb to indicate 'by [verb]-ing', you must include 'te' before the infinitive.

How It Connects

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

doorLevel 1Through/By

Learn This First

To understand 'door', a learner needs to be familiar with the Dutch article system (de/het) to form basic prepositional phrases and should have a basic grasp of how prepositions function in a sentence.

Learn Next

Patterns that build on this one.

Words in This Pattern

door