Learn Dutch: Wie hebzuchtig is, loopt in de val. - Whoever is greedy, walks into the trap.

In this sentence, wie introduces a free relative clause. Instead of pointing back to a specific noun (like "the man who"), wie acts as an independent subject meaning "whoever" or "the person who."

Could I use degene die instead of wie?

Yes! Degene die hebzuchtig is, loopt in de val means exactly the same thing. Using wie is just a slightly more concise way to express "the one who" or "whoever."

Why does the second part of the sentence start with the verb loopt right after the comma?

This is due to the V2 (verb second) rule. The entire first clause, Wie hebzuchtig is, counts as the first grammatical building block of the main sentence. Therefore, the main verb loopt must take the second position immediately after it.

What are the root words of the adjective hebzuchtig?

It is built from hebben (to have) and de zucht (a craving or strong desire), plus the adjective ending -ig. Literally, it describes someone with a craving to possess things, which translates to "greedy."

Is in de val lopen a fixed expression?