Breakdown of Ondanks het feit dat we vroeg zaaien, groeit de plant niet.
niet
not
vroeg
early
de plant
the plant
groeien
to grow
we
we (unstressed form of wij)
dat
that (conjunction)
het feit
the fact
ondanks
despite
zaaien
to sow
Questions & Answers about Ondanks het feit dat we vroeg zaaien, groeit de plant niet.
Why do we need het feit here? Can we just say ondanks dat?
Prepositions like ondanks (despite) are traditionally designed to be followed by a noun phrase, not a whole clause. To connect a full clause, we use het feit (the fact) as a noun, creating ondanks het feit dat. You will hear native speakers say ondanks dat in casual speech, but ondanks het feit dat is the standard, grammatically correct form.
Why is groeit before de plant in the second half of the sentence?
This is the V2 (verb-second) rule. The entire first part of the sentence (Ondanks het feit dat we vroeg zaaien) counts as the first block or position. To keep the main verb in the second position, groeit has to come immediately after the comma, before its subject (de plant).
Could I use a simpler word like hoewel (although) instead of this long phrase?
Yes, you can! Hoewel we vroeg zaaien means exactly the same thing. Ondanks het feit dat is just a slightly more formal or emphatic way to express this, similar to choosing 'despite the fact that' over 'although' in English. Both trigger the exact same word order.
Why does zaaien come after vroeg?
The word dat makes the first half of the sentence a subordinate clause. In Dutch, subordinate clauses push their verbs to the very end of the clause, which is why zaaien comes after vroeg.
Learn Ondanks het feit dat we vroeg zaaien, groeit de plant niet and more in Dutch
All course content and exercises are completely free — no paywalls, no trial periods, no signup needed.
- ✓ Practice with interactive exercises
- ✓ Track your progress with spaced repetition
- ✓Learn at your own pace — completely free