Questions & Answers about Die kerel wordt van alles beschuldigd.
Why do we use van alles here instead of a pronominal adverb like ervan?
The verb is beschuldigen van (to accuse of). When replacing a specific object with "it", you combine van + het into the pronominal adverb ervan (Hij wordt ervan beschuldigd). However, because the object here is the indefinite pronoun alles (everything), it does not combine with the preposition. You simply leave them separate as van alles.
Could I use is instead of wordt to say "is accused"?
Not without changing the meaning. Dutch uses worden for the present passive to show the action of accusing is happening now. If you say Die kerel is van alles beschuldigd, you are using the present perfect passive, which means he has been accused in the past and the action is completed.
Does van alles literally just mean "of everything"?
Literally yes, but van alles is also a very common Dutch fixed phrase that translates better to "all sorts of things" or "a bunch of things". It implies a wide, messy variety of accusations rather than literally every single crime in the universe.
What kind of register is the word kerel?
Kerel is a very informal noun, translating well to "bloke", "guy", or "dude". If you were writing a formal news report about an accusation, you would use the neutral word man instead.
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