Prepositions like gezien (given), dankzij (thanks to), and ondanks (despite) are normally followed by nouns. To follow a preposition with a full clause, use the phrase het feit dat (the fact that) as a bridge.
Word order with "het feit dat"
This structure triggers two familiar word order rules:
- Subordinate word order: dat pushes the verb in the het feit dat clause to the end.
- Inversion: If you start a sentence with the prepositional block, it occupies the first position. The main clause following the comma must use inversion (Verb + Subject) to keep its verb in the second position.
Notice how the verbs stack up around the comma:
| Given the fact that the soil is fertile, agriculture is important here. | Gezien het feit dat de bodem vruchtbaar is, is de landbouw hier belangrijk. |
| Thanks to the fact that we use a lot of manure, the crop grows well. | Dankzij het feit dat we veel mest gebruiken, groeit het gewas goed. |
| Despite the fact that the tractor is old, it works well. | Ondanks het feit dat de tractor oud is, werkt hij goed. |
| Due to the fact that the tractor is broken, we are not working. | Wegens het feit dat de tractor kapot is, werken we niet. |
In the middle of a sentence
If the het feit dat clause comes in the second half of the sentence, the main clause keeps its standard Subject + Verb word order. The subordinate clause still sends its verb to the end.
| The harvest fails due to the fact that we sow too late. | De oogst mislukt door het feit dat we te laat zaaien. |
| The grain is wet, despite the fact that it is in the barn. | Het graan is nat, ondanks het feit dat het in de schuur ligt. |
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