_Het_ as a subject for a subject clause
Some sentences do not have a clearly defined subject. In Dutch, we then choose for either _er_ (see [er as a subject](#/lesson/WordOrder.41)) or _het_.
If the phrase is set in the passive voice, we generally use _er_. An exception is the passive sentence of which the 'that-subclause' is a factual statement, e.g. "Het is bevestigd dat ze broers zijn." (It has been confirmed that they are brothers). See also [_er_ or _het_](#/lesson/WordOrder.43).
If the sentence has an active voice, but no clearly defined subject, we use _het_. We do the same in English:
Het regent | It rains | Het gaat goed | It goes alright
Het is vijf uur | It is five o' clock | Het zal wel.\* | Lit: It will be
(\*) A colloquial expression used in the sense of _Yeah right_.
_Het_ as a 'real' subject
Being a [personal pronoun](#/lesson/Pronouns.Ps01), 'het' can also function as a real subject:
Het werd keurig opgeruimd ( het bureau) | It was properly tidied (the desk)
Het kan bijwerkingen veroorzaken ( het medicijn) | It can cause side-effects (the medicine)