Breakdown of Na het ontslaan van de patiënt wordt de huisarts altijd geïnformeerd.
altijd
always
het
it
worden
to become
van
from (possession, starting point) / made of
na
after (preposition)
ontslaan
to fire / to discharge (from hospital)
de patiënt
the patient
informeren
to inform
de huisarts
the general practitioner
Questions & Answers about Na het ontslaan van de patiënt wordt de huisarts altijd geïnformeerd.
How would you say this sentence using a normal subordinate clause instead of the het ... van structure?
You would use the conjunction nadat (after) and write: Nadat de patiënt is ontslagen, wordt de huisarts altijd geïnformeerd. The nominal style shown in this sentence (Na het ontslaan van...) makes it sound more formal and concise, which is very common in official or medical reports.
Why do we need the word van before de patiënt? Couldn't we just say Na het ontslaan de patiënt?
No, because making an infinitive a noun by adding het (nominalization) strips away its ability to take a direct object. Just like in English where you say the discharging of the patient, Dutch requires van to link the noun-infinitive (het ontslaan) to the person receiving the action (de patiënt).
The main clause is in the passive voice (wordt geïnformeerd). Does the nominal phrase (Na het ontslaan...) also imply a passive action?
Yes, indirectly. A big advantage of the nominal style is that you don't need to specify who is doing the action. We don't know who discharges the patient or who informs the GP. It keeps the sentence completely focused on the procedure itself, which pairs perfectly with the passive main clause.
I usually see ontslaan used for firing someone from a job. Is it normal to use it for patients?
Yes, in a medical context, een patiënt ontslaan is the standard Dutch phrase for discharging a patient from the hospital. It carries the same core meaning of officially releasing someone from an institution or position.
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