“Aan de hand van” is a Dutch prepositional phrase that literally translates to “by means of” or “on the basis of.” It’s commonly used to indicate that something will be explained, illustrated, or done using something else as a reference or guide.
Here are some ways “aan de hand van” can be used in a sentence:
- Uitleg aan de hand van voorbeelden: This translates to “Explanation by means of examples.”
- We zullen de theorie aan de hand van casussen bespreken: This means “We will discuss the theory on the basis of cases.”
- De kok bereidt het gerecht aan de hand van dit recept: This translates to “The cook prepares the dish using this recipe.”
Here are some alternative phrases in Dutch that can be used with similar meaning:
- Met behulp van: This translates to “With the help of.”
- Op basis van: This means “On the basis of.”
- Aan de hand van + voorzetsel (zoals: met, naar): This combines “aan de hand van” with a preposition (like with, according to) for more specific meaning. For example, “Aan de hand van mét de instructies kan je het apparaat installeren” means “With the help of the instructions, you can install the appliance.”
I hope this explanation clarifies how “aan de hand van” is used in Dutch!