Breakdown of Niemand anders dan de burgemeester kon het initiatief nemen.
nemen
to take (general, abstract, e.g., transport, medicine)
het
it
kunnen
can
niemand
no one
dan
than
de burgemeester
the mayor
ander
other
het initiatief
the initiative
Questions & Answers about Niemand anders dan de burgemeester kon het initiatief nemen.
Why use the phrase het initiatief nemen instead of a single verb like initiëren?
This is a classic function verb structure (nomen-werkwoordverbinding). While the verb initiëren exists, using an abstract noun plus a light verb like nemen is much more common and sounds more natural in Dutch, especially in administrative or formal contexts like talking about a mayor.
Could I use niemand behalve instead of niemand anders dan?
Yes, both are correct. Niemand behalve means nobody except, while niemand anders dan literally translates to nobody else than. The phrase anders dan is slightly more formal and emphasizes the exclusivity of the mayor's power in this context.
Why is the verb nemen separated from het initiatief and placed at the very end?
This is because kon (could) is a modal verb. In a Dutch main clause, the conjugated modal verb takes the second position, pushing the infinitive verb (nemen) to the end. Even though het initiatief nemen acts as a single logical concept, the grammar rules for word order still split the object and the verb.
I see it is het initiatief. Is there a rule for words ending in -ief?
Yes! Nouns ending in -ief that come from Latin or French (like het motief, het perspectief, het alternatief) are almost always neuter, so they take het.
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