On the previous page, we only had a look at passive sentences with subject clauses that begin with 'dat' (that).
A passive sentence with a subject clause that begins with an interrogative pronoun (wie, wat, welke) also requires er as a subject:
| Dutch
| English
| Voice
| Subject
|
| "Ze besloten gezamenlijk wie de afwas moest doen."
| "Together they decided who had to do the dishes."
| Active
| Ze
|
| "Wie de afwas moest doen werd gezamenlijk besloten."
| Who had to do the dishes was decided together."
| Passive
| Wie de afwas moest doen
|
Because the 'subject' starts with an interrogative pronoun (wie), we add er:
| Dutch
| English
| Voice
| Provisional subject
|
| "Er werd gezamenlijk besloten wie de afwas moest doen"
| (lit) It was decided together who had to do the dishes.
| Passive
| Er
|
Other examples of sentences that require er as a subject:
| Er werd gevraagd of ze vroeger weg mochten.
| They asked ('it was asked) if they could leave earlier.
|
| Er werd gezocht naar een adequate oplossing.
| They looked (it was looked) for an adequate solution.
|
| Er wordt thans over een nieuwe aanpak nagedacht.
| A new strategy is currently considered.
|
Questions? 
