Question 1

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

Accepted Answer

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.

Question 2

What is the difference between ondanks and desondanks?

Accepted Answer

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.

Question 3

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

Accepted Answer

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.

Question 4

How is the noun blootstelling (exposure) formed?

Accepted Answer

It is built from the separable verb blootstellen (to expose). If you break it down literally, it combines bloot (bare or naked) and stellen (to set or place). Adding the -ing suffix turns this action into the noun blootstelling.

Desondanks is het masker verplicht, ongeacht de blootstelling.

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