Advanced Use of `er` (Complex Structures)

Advanced Use of er (Complex Structures) (B2)

While B1 covers the four main functions of er (locational, quantitative, pronominal adverb, presentational), B2 requires a deeper understanding and more flexible use of er, particularly in combination with other elements and in more complex sentence structures.

Review of B1 Functions:

Locational: Hij woont er. (He lives there.)
Quantitative: Ik heb er twee. (I have two [of them].)
Pronominal Adverb: Ik denk eraan. (I'm thinking about it.) - Replaces prep + het.
Presentational: Er staat een fiets. (There is a bike.)

B2 Focus - Complexity and Combinations:

Combinations of er: Understanding sentences where multiple functions of er might appear (though often one er serves multiple roles or one is omitted to avoid awkwardness, this requires advanced intuition).

Potential complexity: Imagine needing presentational er and quantitative er. Er zijn er veel. (There are many [of them].)
Example with presentational + pronominal adverb: Er wordt veel over gepraat. (It is talked about a lot / There is much talk about it.) - Er (presentational) + erover (pronominal adverb over + het) combine; the locational part of the pronominal adverb is subsumed.

er with Prepositional Phrases as Pronominal Adverbs: Mastery of forming and splitting pronominal adverbs (er + preposition) in various sentence types.

Review: Ik wacht erop. / Ik wacht er al een uur op.
In questions: Waar wacht je op? (What are you waiting for?) - waar...op
In relative clauses: Het ding waar ik op wacht... (The thing that I am waiting for...) - waar...op
With te+infinitive: Ik vergeet erop te letten. / Ik vergeet er altijd op te letten. (I forget to pay attention to it.)

er with Quantities and Adjectives/Clauses: Correctly placing er when quantifying nouns that are further specified.

Structure: Quantity + er + [adjective ending in -e] + (van - often omitted)
Example: Ik heb er drie rode (van). (I have three red ones [of them].)
Structure: Quantity + er + [relative clause]
Example: Hij heeft er een paar die erg oud zijn. (He has a few [of them] that are very old.)

Presentational er in Complex Sentences: Using er correctly to introduce indefinite subjects in sentences with multiple verbs, subordinate clauses, or passive constructions.

Passive Example: Er moet meer gedaan worden. (More must be done.)
Modal Example: Er kunnen problemen ontstaan. (Problems can arise.)
With Subordinate Clause: Ik denk dat er iemand aan de deur staat. (I think that there is someone at the door.)

Avoiding Redundant er: Developing an intuition for when er is necessary and when it can or should be omitted, especially when other locational adverbs are present or when combining multiple functions becomes too clumsy.

Example: In dit huis wonen er veel mensen. (less common) vs. In dit huis wonen veel mensen. (er often omitted when another location is fronted).

Key Takeaways for B2:

Focus on the flexible use and placement of pronominal adverbs (waar...mee, er...van, hier...op) in questions, relative clauses, and infinitive constructions.
Master quantitative er with specified nouns (Ik wil er twee grote.).
Use presentational er confidently in passive and modal sentences.
Develop a feel for combining and potentially omitting er in complex structures to maintain natural flow.
Recognize that native speaker intuition plays a significant role in the most complex combinations.