Sentence-Level Rhetorical Framing
In formal Dutch, participial constructions are an effective way to frame a sentence, allowing you to weigh arguments or pivot to a new point. Two of the most common are:
- alles in aanmerking nemende (taking everything into consideration / all things considered)
- dat gezegd hebbende (that having been said / that being said)
Word Order and Inversion
These phrases usually sit at the beginning of a sentence. Because Dutch is a verb-second (V2) language, placing this entire phrase in the first position means the main clause's finite verb must come immediately after the comma, followed by the subject.
| Taking everything into consideration, peace is now the best option. | Alles in aanmerking nemende, is de vrede nu de beste optie. |
| Taking everything into consideration, the delegation refused the demand. | Alles in aanmerking nemende, weigerde de delegatie de eis. |
Use dat gezegd hebbende to introduce a pivot or contrast:
| That having been said, we will protect the peace. | Dat gezegd hebbende, zullen we de vrede beschermen. |
| That having been said, the delegation had the document translated. | Dat gezegd hebbende, liet de delegatie het document vertalen. |
Diplomacy in Practice
These formal structures pair naturally with vocabulary for treaties and negotiations. Notice how inversion applies consistently, regardless of the verb tense:
| Taking everything into consideration, the ceasefire seems impossible. | Alles in aanmerking nemende, lijkt het staakt-het-vuren onmogelijk. |
| Taking everything into consideration, the alliance will win the conflict. | Alles in aanmerking nemende, zal de alliantie het conflict winnen. |
| That having been said, they will make a concession. | Dat gezegd hebbende, zullen zij een concessie doen. |
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