wijvorm

Wijvorm, in Dutch grammar, refers to the first-person plural form used when the speaker includes themselves with others. The subject pronoun wij (we) governs the associated verb form, as in wij werken or wij weten. The wij-vorm can appear in present, past, and other tenses, and it includes a plural set of actors, typically the speaker and one or more others.

In addition to normal narrative or descriptive sentences, the wij-vorm is frequently used in official, corporate, and public communications. It serves to present actions, decisions, or stances as collective rather than individual, which can convey unity, shared responsibility, or organizational voice. The imperative construction laten we (let us) is a common feature that expresses proposals or collaborative actions, for example: laten we beginnen.

Context matters for interpretation. The wij-vorm can be inclusive, signaling solidarity with the audience, or it can function as a formal voice used by institutions, media outlets, or research authors. In scientific and journalistic writing, the editorial we is sometimes employed to attribute statements to the authors and, by extension, to the audience via shared understanding. Conversely, overuse of the wij-vorm can blur individual accountability, especially when responsibility should be attributed to specific persons. In style guidelines, the choice between wij- and ik-vorm, or passive constructions, can affect tone, clarity, and perceived transparency.