Breakdown of De docent is kwaad op de student.
zijn
to be
de student
the student
de docent
the teacher
op
on
Questions & Answers about De docent is kwaad op de student.
Why does the sentence use op here instead of a literal translation for "at"?
In Dutch, the adjective kwaad (angry) is always followed by the fixed preposition op when you specify who you are angry at. You cannot translate the English "at" directly; you just have to memorize the fixed combination kwaad op.
Could I use boos instead of kwaad in this sentence?
Yes, absolutely! Boos and kwaad both mean "angry" or "mad" and are used interchangeably. The sentence De docent is boos op de student is perfectly correct, because boos also takes the fixed preposition op.
What is the difference between a docent and a leraar?
Both words mean "teacher". Leraar is a general term for a teacher, while docent is often used for high school teachers or university instructors. In everyday Dutch, you will hear both used for anyone teaching a class.
If the teacher was angry at a situation instead of a student, how would I use op with "it"?
When a fixed preposition like op points to a thing or situation rather than a person, it combines with er (there). So "angry at it" becomes erop kwaad or kwaad erop. You cannot say "op het".