All Together: Allemaal and Gezamenlijk
When you want to emphasize that a whole group is participating in an action, use allemaal (all). It works similarly to an adverb that refers back to a pronoun like we, jullie, or zij. It usually sits in the middle of the sentence.
| We are all going to the meeting. | We gaan allemaal naar het overleg. |
If you want to express that a group is tackling something as a unified front, use gezamenlijk (jointly / shared).
| Our department wants to tackle this problem jointly. | Onze afdeling wil dit probleem gezamenlijk aanpakken. |
Both: Beide vs. Beiden
Dutch has a specific spelling rule for the word "both" depending on what you are describing.
When talking about things, animals, or groups (like projects or departments), use beide. This is also the form you use anytime the word sits directly in front of a noun as an adjective.
| Both departments are at the meeting. | Beide afdelingen zijn bij het overleg. |
| You must finish both projects. | Jullie moeten beide projecten afmaken. |
However, when you are talking about exactly two people, and the word stands entirely on its own as a pronoun, you must add an -n: beiden.
| They are both present today. | Zij zijn vandaag beiden aanwezig. |
Working with Object Pronouns
You will frequently pair allemaal and beiden with object pronouns like ons (us) or hen (them) to clarify exactly who is on the receiving end of a team effort.
| The boss wants to motivate all of us. | De baas wil ons allemaal motiveren. |
| You must involve both of them in the project. | Je moet hen beiden bij het project betrekken. |
