Questions & Answers about Ik doe het op deze manier.
Why do we use op here to mean "in"?
Prepositions rarely translate word-for-word! In Dutch, the fixed combination for doing something in a certain way or manner uses the preposition op. So, the English phrase "in this way" becomes op deze manier.
Why is it deze manier and not dit manier?
Because manier is a de-word (de manier). In Dutch, we use deze for "this" when talking about de-words, and dit when talking about het-words.
Can I use manier to talk about a "way" like a physical road or direction?
No, manier only means "way" in the sense of a method, style, or approach. If you are talking about a physical road, path, or route, you need to use the word weg.
Is there a shorter way to say this?
Yes! You will often hear Dutch speakers say Ik doe het zo to mean "I do it like this" or "I do it this way." Op deze manier is just a slightly more specific phrase that emphasizes the method.