Breakdown of Enerzijds is het plan erg duur, anderzijds is het noodzakelijk.
zijn
to be
duur
expensive
erg
very / really
het
it
het plan
the plan
noodzakelijk
necessary
enerzijds
on the one hand
anderzijds
on the other hand (often paired with enerzijds)
Questions & Answers about Enerzijds is het plan erg duur, anderzijds is het noodzakelijk.
Why do both clauses use inverted word order (is het plan and is het)?
Both enerzijds and anderzijds are adverbs that take up the first position in their respective clauses. Because Dutch enforces the V2 (verb-second) rule in main clauses, the verb (is) must come immediately after these adverbs, pushing the subjects (het plan and het) to the third position.
What is the literal breakdown of the words enerzijds and anderzijds?
They literally translate to "one-side's" and "other-side's". They are formed from ene (one) and andere (other) combined with zijde (side) and an old adverbial -s ending. This makes them the direct equivalent of the English concept "on the one hand... on the other hand".
Could I add maar (but) before anderzijds in this sentence?
Yes, you can! It is very common to say ..., maar anderzijds is het noodzakelijk. Coordinating conjunctions like maar do not count towards the V2 word order rule, so anderzijds still acts as position one, keeping the verb inversion exactly the same.
Are enerzijds and anderzijds commonly used in casual conversation?
These words lean towards formal or written Dutch, so you will mostly hear them in professional settings, the news, or read them in articles. In casual, everyday speech, a Dutch person is much more likely to use aan de ene kant ... aan de andere kant.
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