Breakdown of Volgens de woordvoerder is de situatie veilig.
zijn
to be
veilig
safe
de situatie
the situation
volgens
according to
Questions & Answers about Volgens de woordvoerder is de situatie veilig.
Could I use namens instead of volgens in this sentence?
It would completely change the meaning. Volgens de woordvoerder means "According to the spokesperson" (they are the source of the information). If you said Namens de woordvoerder, it would mean "On behalf of the spokesperson" (you are speaking for them).
Why is the verb is placed before the subject de situatie?
Because Dutch uses "verb-second" word order. The phrase Volgens de woordvoerder takes up the first position in the sentence. Therefore, the verb (is) must come second, pushing the subject (de situatie) to the third position.
If I move volgens de woordvoerder to the middle of the sentence, how does the word order change?
The subject would go back to the front, followed immediately by the verb. You would say: De situatie is volgens de woordvoerder veilig.
How is the word woordvoerder formed?
It is a compound of woord (word) and voerder (someone who carries or conducts, from the verb voeren). Literally, it's a "word-carrier," which is the Dutch way to say "spokesperson."