erworden

Erworden is not a separate verb in Dutch; it is the familiar construction consisting of the dummy subject er and the auxiliary verb worden, typically written as two words: er worden. It is used to form impersonal or passive expressions that describe a change or action without naming the performer.

In standard use, er is the existential or impersonal subject, while worden marks a process or passive voice. Examples in the present tense include: "Er wordt gewerkt aan het project" (The project is being worked on) and "Er worden drie nieuwe scholen gebouwd" (Three new schools are being built). In the past tense one says "Er werd gewerkt" (Work was being done) or "Er werden foto's genomen" (Photos were taken). In the perfect aspect the passive forms appear with the auxiliary zijn: "Er is gewerkt" (There has been work done).

The function of erworden constructions is to shift emphasis from the actor to the action or process, often highlighting what happens rather than who does it. They are common in news, bureaucratic language, and description of ongoing processes. The subject of the sentence is not a specific person or group, making erworden especially suited to general statements or official reporting.

Notes: written Dutch normally separates er and worden; encountering erworden as a single word is rare and typically indicates a typographical error or an unusual orthographic choice. Related topics include the verb worden, the passive voice in Dutch, and the use of a dummy subject er in existential constructions.