Making Subjective Claims with "menen te"
When you want to describe what someone firmly—and perhaps falsely—claims to be true, you can use the verb menen. In this context, it functions much like the English phrase "claims to" or "believes to."
To build these sentences, conjugate menen for the subject, and place te + the infinitive verb at the very end of the clause. The subject of menen is also the implied subject of the infinitive action.
| That know-it-all claims to know everything better. | Die betweter meent alles beter te weten. |
| He overestimates himself and claims to be infallible. | Hij overschat zichzelf en meent onfeilbaar te zijn. |
Dealing with Unfounded Claims
This structure is especially useful when pointing out arrogant behavior, unsubstantiated statements, or a self-proclaimed sense of superiority. Notice how the infinitive phrase with te clusters at the end of the first clause, often right before a coordinating conjunction like maar (but) introduces the reality of the situation.
| He claims to speak the truth, but his claim is unfounded. | Hij meent de waarheid te spreken, maar zijn claim is ongegrond. |
| He claims to be superior and tries to belittle us. | Hij meent superieur te zijn en probeert ons te kleineren. |
Past Actions and Authorities
If a person is claiming to have already done something in the past, you can use a perfect infinitive. Just like in English ("claims to have discovered"), place the past participle before te hebben (or te zijn) at the end of the sentence.
| He claims to have discovered the mistake and wants to correct everyone. | Hij meent de fout ontdekt te hebben en wil iedereen corrigeren. |
Whether dealing with a self-appointed authority or a stubborn know-it-all, this structure clearly marks their statements as subjective, allowing you to gracefully question their proof!
| She claims to possess conclusive evidence. | Ze meent doorslaggevend bewijs te bezitten. |
