Learn Dutch: Desondanks is het masker verplicht, ongeacht de blootstelling. - Nevertheless, the mask is mandatory, regardless of the exposure.

Desondanks is het masker verplicht, ongeacht de blootstelling.

Nevertheless, the mask is mandatory, regardless of the exposure.

Breakdown of Desondanks is het masker verplicht, ongeacht de blootstelling.

Questions & Answers about Desondanks is het masker verplicht, ongeacht de blootstelling.

Does ongeacht require a second preposition to mean 'regardless of'?

No. In Dutch, ongeacht is a formal preposition that fully means 'regardless of' or 'irrespective of' all on its own. You don't need to add a word like van; it connects directly to the noun phrase, which in this case is de blootstelling.

What is the difference between ondanks and desondanks?

Ondanks is a preposition meaning 'despite' and must be followed by a noun (e.g., ondanks het masker). Desondanks, used here, is an adverb meaning 'despite that' or 'nevertheless'. Because desondanks already contains a built-in reference to the previous context (from the old genitive word des), it is used to link back to a previous statement rather than pointing forward to a new noun.

Why is the word order is het masker instead of het masker is?

This is the classic V2 (verb-second) rule in action. Because the main clause starts with the adverb Desondanks, that word takes up the first position. The verb must always come second in a main clause, so the subject and verb swap places to become is het masker.

How is the noun blootstelling (exposure) formed?