If a clause does not have a subject, we use _er_ or _het_. We use _het_ for active sentences, _er_ for passive sentences.
On this page, we look at _er_ as a placeholder for the subject. For _het_, see [_het_ as a subject](#/lesson/WordOrder.44).
Ze zingen. | They sing. | Er wordt gezongen. | There is singing.
We praten. | We talk. | Er wordt gepraat. | There is talking.
Subject clause
Some sentences contain a 'subject clause', which means that the subject consists of an entire clause. We typically encounter this in [passive](#/lesson/Verbs.Ot05) sentences.
Example | Voice | Subject
Ze zeggen dat ze broers zijn. | Active | Ze
They say that they are brothers. | Active | They
Example | Voice | Subject
Dat ze broers zijn wordt gezegd. | Passive | Dat ze broers zijn
That they are brothers is being said. | Passive | That they are brothers
Example | Voice | Subject
"They say that they are brothers" | Active | They
"That they are brothers is said" | Passive | "that they are brothers"
Now, the second sentence does not sound right, does it? Indeed, we do not like subclauses to behave like subjects. They should stay in their own clause, and we will invent a new subject for the main clause: _Er_ for the Dutch sentence and 'it' for the English sentence.
Example | Voice | Subject
"Er wordt gezegd dat ze broers zijn" | Passive | Er
"It is said (by them) that they are brothers" | Passive | It
Other examples:
Er wordt vanuit gegaan dat ze dezelfde vader hebben. | It is assumed that they have the same father.
Er werd meegedeeld dat ze geen familie van elkaar waren. | It was announced that they are not related to eachother.