B2 · Lesson 219 · Mobility & nature (B2)

Food waste

Talk about leftovers, best-before dates and wasted food, and use er in its different roles.

Grammar

Er in everyday use

Existential er introduces an indefinite subject, also in the impersonal passive: Er wordt elk jaar veel voedsel weggegooid. Er ligt nog brood in de kast.
Quantitative er is needed with a number or amount when the noun is left out: Hoeveel eieren heb je nog? Ik heb er nog drie. Ik heb er te veel gekocht.
Er + preposition replaces a thing already mentioned; the preposition usually moves to just before the final verb: Wat doe je met de kliekjes? Ik maak er morgen soep van.
Two kinds of er can occur together, as long as they don't touch: Er liggen er nog twee in de koelkast. (existential + quantitative)
Unstressed er also means “there” (place): De voedselbank? Ik werk er elke zaterdag.

Vocabulary