Er with Numbers/Quantifiers

The quantitative er is a characteristic feature of Dutch grammar. It is obligatory in indefinite contexts whenever a countable noun is omitted after a quantifier or number.

1. When to use it:
It is used with 'weak' or indefinite quantifiers when the countable noun they refer to is not repeated:

• Numbers: twee, tien, honderd. Example: Ik heb er drie.
• The number één: When the indefinite article een stands alone because the noun is dropped, it becomes the number één (one), which requires er. Example: Ik heb er één.
• Weak Quantifiers: veel, weinig, een paar, enkele. Example: Ik heb er al enkele gelezen.
• Negation: geen
• Measure phrases: kilo, liter, meter. Note that er is used only if the omitted noun is countable (e.g., apples). If the noun is a mass noun (e.g., water), er is omitted. Example: Ik heb er twee kilo (appels).

2. When NOT to use it:

• Mass Nouns: Quantitative er is never used with mass nouns (uncountable substances), even with measure phrases. Example: Heb je suiker? Ja, ik heb een kilo.
• Strong Quantifiers: Do not use er with alle, elk, ieder, beide, or sommige. These are considered 'strong' or 'definite' quantifiers. Note that when using alle, Dutch usually requires the object pronoun ze to refer back to the noun. Example: Ik heb ze alle drie. (I have all three of them).
• Definite Contexts: If the quantifier is preceded by a demonstrative (deze, die) or a definite article, er is omitted. Example: Ik heb die drie.

3. Position and Merging:
Quantitative er occupies the 'R-position' in the middle field. In a standard main clause, it follows the finite verb. However, if there is inversion (e.g., in a question or when a time word starts the sentence), er must follow the subject. Example: Gisteren heb ik er drie gekocht.

4. Stacking and Reduction:
Dutch allows multiple functions of er (locative, prepositional, quantitative, and expletive) in one sentence, but they often merge to avoid repetition. The maximum number of er words allowed in a single clause is two. If three or more functions are present, they reduce to two. A common combination is existential er + quantitative er. Example: Er zijn er drie. (There are three of them). If a locative er and a quantitative er meet, they usually merge into a single er. Example: Ik heb er drie (daar) gekocht.

Wat:
With omitted countable items, use er wat: Heb je boeken? Ja, ik heb er wat (Do you have books? Yes, I have some). For an uncountable substance, say Heb je water? Ja, ik heb wat. The noun may also stay explicit: Ik heb wat water.

Subclauses:
After a pronoun subject, quantitative er normally precedes the quantity: Ik ben blij omdat ik er drie heb (I am happy because I have three). The finite verb heb is at the end of this subclause.

A Different Er:
Quantitative er refers to omitted countable items. Prepositional er belongs to a combination such as erop or eraan; it replaces a prepositional phrase referring to a thing. The two functions should not be confused merely because both contain er.