Questions & Answers about Ik weet dat de methodologie zwak is, maar ik ken hen niet.
Why do we use hen here instead of hun?
In formal written Dutch, hen is used for direct objects and after prepositions, while hun is used for indirect objects without a preposition. Since the people are the direct object of the verb ken, hen is the strictly correct formal choice. In casual speech, you will often just hear ze.
This sentence uses both weet and ken for "know". How do I choose between them?
Use weten (here, weet) when you know a fact or piece of information, like knowing that a methodology is weak. Use kennen (here, ken) when you are acquainted with or familiar with a person, place, or thing. You cannot use weten to mean knowing a person!
Why does the verb is get pushed to the end of its clause, while ken stays in the second position?
The word dat introduces a subordinate clause, which forces its verb (is) to the end. The word maar (but), however, is a coordinating conjunction that joins two independent main clauses. Because it starts a new main clause, ik ken hen niet follows standard Subject-Verb word order.
Why is niet placed at the very end of the sentence?