tommus wrote:Je moet geen vrienden met hun worden. Het zijn sukkels.
Don't be friends with them. They are losers.
Note the "Het" instead of "Ze". Is this standard Dutch? Is this common usage? What are the guidelines for using "het" instead of "ze" or "zij"?
Yup! That's standard Dutch. In fact, Ze zijn sukkels would be plain incorrect.
You use Het zijn (and also dit/dat zijn for these/those are) in the construction of "Het zijn (meervoudig zelfstandignaamwoord)".
I've known this rule for a while, but my Dutch grammar class explained it in a more universal way. It's to do with certain things sounding weird if they're not emphasized if I recall correctly. I'll get back to you on that.
I've been busy with my Dutch exams (in the Netherlands!) so I haven't got around to posting, but hallo! Nice to see everyone who is learning Dutch here
Edit: By the way, just double checked and yup, "met hun" should be "met hen", officially. Of course 'officially' is different than what people might use...