Breakdown of Het decreet der regering verbiedt geen enkele optie.
de optie
the option
de regering
the government
verbieden
to forbid
geen enkel
not a single / no ... whatsoever (also geen enkele)
het decreet
the decree
der
of the (genitive)
Questions & Answers about Het decreet der regering verbiedt geen enkele optie.
Why does this sentence use der regering instead of van de regering?
The word der is an old genitive (possessive) article that translates to of the. In modern Dutch, we usually say van de regering. However, formal, legal, or official texts (like a government decree) still use these genitive relics. Because regering is a feminine noun, it takes the feminine genitive article der.
If the decree belonged to a king (masculine), would the article still be der?
No, you would use des. The article der is strictly for feminine singular nouns (like regering) and all plural nouns. For masculine and neuter singular nouns, the genitive article is des, and you usually add an -s to the end of the noun, making it het decreet des konings.
Does adding enkele to geen optie change the meaning?
In this formal context, why use decreet instead of a word like besluit?
decreet specifically refers to a high-level binding edict or law issued by a head of state or specific government body (it is especially common in Belgian Dutch for regional laws). besluit is a more common everyday word for a general decision. decreet carries a stronger, more authoritarian tone, which perfectly fits the rigid restriction of geen enkele optie.
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