Breakdown of Degene die veel invloed heeft, mag dan wel machtig zijn, maar is vaak eenzaam.
zijn
to be
maar
but
hebben
to have
veel
much / many / a lot of
Questions & Answers about Degene die veel invloed heeft, mag dan wel machtig zijn, maar is vaak eenzaam.
How does mag dan wel express concession here?
In Dutch, the combination mag dan wel ... maar is a common pattern used to concede a point before countering it, exactly like "may well be X, but is Y" in English. The verb mogen here does not mean "to be allowed to" (its usual meaning). Instead, it expresses that the speaker accepts a fact as true, only to contrast it with the second half of the sentence.
Are the words dan wel strictly necessary, or could I just use mag?
They are essential here. If you just said mag machtig zijn, the verb mogen would revert to its primary meaning of permission, translating to "is allowed to be powerful". The particles dan wel are the triggers that shift mogen into a concessive meaning, acknowledging a fact rather than giving permission.
Why use degene die instead of just wie or hij die?
Degene die is the standard, gender-neutral way to say "the one who" or "the person who". While hij die (he who) exists, it sounds quite old-fashioned and overly formal today. Starting the sentence with just wie works in some proverbs, but degene die is the natural choice for everyday B2-level Dutch.
Why is there no subject after maar in maar is vaak eenzaam?