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Structureel gezien zijn de afmetingen van het gebouw perfect.

Structureel gezien zijn de afmetingen van het gebouw perfect.
Structurally speaking, the dimensions of the building are perfect.
From Lesson 464:Domain restrictions (qua, -gezien)·Dutch

Questions & Answers about Structureel gezien zijn de afmetingen van het gebouw perfect.

How does gezien work with structureel here?
The word gezien literally means "seen" (the past participle of zien). When placed after an adjective like structureel, it works like the English "-wise" or "speaking" to frame the specific aspect of the statement. So, structureel gezien translates nicely to "structurally speaking" or "structure-wise".
The lesson also mentions using qua. Could we use it in this sentence instead?
Yes, but the grammar changes slightly. While gezien pairs with an adjective (structureel gezien), qua requires a noun. So you would say qua structuur ("regarding structure"). The sentence would then be: Qua structuur zijn de afmetingen van het gebouw perfect.
Why is the verb zijn placed before the subject de afmetingen?
This is a classic case of inversion triggered by the V2 (verb-second) rule. Because the adverbial phrase Structureel gezien occupies the first position in the sentence, the verb (zijn) must immediately follow it. This pushes the subject (de afmetingen) into the third position.
Can I place structureel gezien somewhere else in the sentence?
Yes, it doesn't have to be at the beginning. You can place it in the middle of the sentence, after the conjugated verb. For example: De afmetingen van het gebouw zijn structureel gezien perfect. Notice that in this version, there is no inversion because the subject is back in the first position.
Does structureel only refer to physical structures like buildings?
Not at all. While it means "physically structural" here, Dutch speakers use structureel very frequently to mean "systematic," "fundamental," or "ongoing." For example, a structureel probleem usually describes a chronic or recurring problem, not a physical one.

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