When you want to state a universal rule or make a general observation in Dutch, you do not always refer to a specific person. Instead of naming someone directly, Dutch uses generalized subject pronouns like 'men', 'je', 'ze', and group words like 'sommigen'. In this deck, you will learn how to formulate general statements and talk about anonymous actions naturally.

To state formal rules, customs, or general truths, Dutch uses the generalized pronoun 'men', which means 'one' or 'people in general'. It always takes a third-person singular verb, which is the verb stem plus T. For example, 'In Nederland fietst men veel' means 'In the Netherlands, one cycles a lot'.

You also hear 'men' in fixed formal questions and notices, such as asking how something is said or describing payment options. For example, 'Men kan hier pinnen' means 'One can pay by debit card here'.