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Prepositions after adjectives

Dutch with in, from, to, and on

Dutch usually describes nationality or language. It is not commonly followed by fixed prepositions such as for, to, or on.

Quick answer

How Dutch is normally used

Dutch is usually used without a following preposition: a Dutch artist, speak Dutch. In and from can appear in wider phrases such as Dutch in origin or people from Dutch communities. Combinations like Dutch for, Dutch to, and Dutch on are not standard fixed patterns.

She is Dutch.
The label was written in Dutch.
He comes from a Dutch family.

Choose the pattern by meaning

These forms are not interchangeable. Choose the construction by meaning, not by which preposition appears most often.

1
Dutch + noun

Describing nationality or origin

Dutch commonly modifies nouns.

Dutch architecture
Dutch culture
2
in Dutch

Talking about language

Use in Dutch for spoken or written language.

The email was written in Dutch.
They spoke in Dutch during the meeting.
3
from a Dutch + noun

Referring to Dutch origin

From belongs to the larger phrase, not directly to Dutch.

She comes from a Dutch family.
The recipe comes from Dutch tradition.

See the difference in context

The same subject can take different constructions because each sentence answers a different question.

Construction
Example
Meaning
in Dutch
The contract is written in Dutch.
using the Dutch language
Dutch in origin
The designer is Dutch in origin.
in introduces additional information about origin
Dutch for / Dutch to
These are not standard fixed combinations.
for and to are not normally selected by Dutch
Dutch on
Dutch on its own is not followed by on as a fixed pattern.
on may appear in separate expressions with another function

Common mistakes

Some combinations appear in real text but do not mean what learners often assume.

Treating Dutch as a verb-like adjective

Dutch usually stands alone or modifies a noun.

✕ She is Dutch to music. ✓ She is Dutch.

Using for after Dutch without context

Dutch does not normally take for as a complement.

✕ The text is Dutch for tourists. ✓ The text is in Dutch for tourists.

Quick practice

Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.

1. The guidebook is written ___ Dutch.
2. She comes from a ___ family.
3. Which combination is not a standard fixed pattern?

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Frequently asked questions

Can Dutch be a noun?

Yes. It can refer to the Dutch language collectively, as in Dutch is difficult for me.

Do we say in Dutch or on Dutch?

Use in Dutch when referring to language.

Is Dutch capitalized?

Yes. Nationalities and languages are capitalized in English.

daily, for, daily, with, daily, in damaging to, for, of, in or as? damn about, near, for, to or as? "dangerous for" or "dangerous to"? "dark in", "dark for" or "dark of"? "daunting for" or "daunting to"? dead in, on, by, at or of? deadly to, in, for, of or with? "deaf to" or "deaf in"? dear to, in, for, of or as? deceased in, to, for, at or on? "decent in" or "decent for"?

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