Learn Dutch: Waar men op het veld of de akker ook graaft, men vindt altijd iets. - Wherever one digs on the field or the farmland, one always finds something.

To create words like wherever, whoever, or whatever in Dutch, you combine a question word like waar with ook. However, they wrap around the clause rather than sitting next to each other. Waar starts the dependent clause, and ook sits near the end, just before the verb graaft.

Why is the main clause men vindt and not vindt men? Doesn't the dependent clause force inversion?

This is a very important exception to the Dutch word order rules! Usually, starting a sentence with a dependent clause forces the main clause to invert its subject and verb. But these specific clauses (meaning wherever, whoever, whatever) are treated almost like a separate introductory thought. Because of this, the main clause keeps its normal subject-verb order (men vindt).

What is the difference between a veld and an akker?

While both can be translated as field, an akker is specifically plowed agricultural land used for growing crops. A veld is a much broader term for any open area, such as a grassy meadow, pasture, or even a sports field.

How common is the word men in conversational Dutch?