Breakdown of De beveiliging controleert elk pasje voordat men de vergaderzaal betreedt.
elke
every
voordat
before
controleren
to check
de vergaderzaal
the meeting room
men
one
de beveiliging
the security
het pasje
the pass
betreden
to enter
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Questions & Answers about De beveiliging controleert elk pasje voordat men de vergaderzaal betreedt.
Why is elk pasje used instead of elke pasje?
The word pasje is a diminutive (ending in -je), which always takes the neuter article het. With neuter singular nouns, you use elk. The form elke appears with common-gender (de-words) singular nouns (for example, elke man).
What does de beveiliging refer to here?
de beveiliging is a collective noun meaning the security service or security personnel (guards, staff). It refers to the team or department responsible for checking the passes.
Why does voordat send the verb to the end in voordat men de vergaderzaal betreedt?
Because voordat is a subordinating conjunction in Dutch. In any subordinate clause introduced by a word like voordat, the finite verb must appear at the end of that clause.
What is the role of men? Could I use je or u instead?
men is an impersonal pronoun meaning “one” or “people in general.” It’s used for universal statements without addressing a specific person. You could use je informally (meaning “you”) or u formally, but then you’re directly addressing the listener rather than speaking in general terms.
Why is there no separate article like een or het before elk pasje?
Quantifiers such as elk, ieder, and geen act as determiners themselves. When you use one of these, you don’t add another article (like een or het) before the noun.
Can I say De beveiliging checkt elk pasje ... instead of controleert?
Yes, in informal contexts you often hear checkt (from English check). However, controleren is the standard and more formal Dutch verb for “to check.”
What’s the difference between vergaderzaal and vergaderruimte?
Both mean “meeting room.” vergaderzaal literally “meeting hall” suggests a dedicated room, often with fixed seating. vergaderruimte (“meeting space”) is more general and can refer to any area arranged for meetings.
Can I invert the sentence and start with voordat?
Yes. If you place the subordinate clause first, add a comma, then the main clause must follow the verb-second (V2) rule: Voordat men de vergaderzaal betreedt, controleert de beveiliging elk pasje.