Breakdown of We zijn hier om degene te bedanken die de trofee wint.
zijn
to be
hier
here
bedanken
to thank
we
we (unstressed form of wij)
Questions & Answers about We zijn hier om degene te bedanken die de trofee wint.
Why are degene and die separated by te bedanken?
Although degene die (the one who) belongs together in meaning, die introduces a completely new clause. The first part of the sentence uses an om ... te (in order to) structure, which forces the verb te bedanken to the end of its own block: om degene te bedanken. The description of that person (die de trofee wint) is then attached at the very end.
How would this change if we were thanking multiple winners?
You would use the plural form degenen (the ones) instead of degene. The word die stays exactly the same, but you have to make the final verb plural: We zijn hier om degenen te bedanken die de trofee winnen.
Why couldn't we use datgene wat in this sentence?
Datgene wat translates to 'that which' and is strictly used for things, situations, or abstract concepts. Because we are thanking a person who wins a trophy, we must use degene die (the one who).
Why is the verb wint at the very end of the sentence?