Learn Dutch: Uitgaande van deze hypothese, zullen we vanavond niets vreemds waarnemen. - Assuming this hypothesis, we will observe nothing strange tonight.

Uitgaande van comes from the verb uitgaan van, which literally means "to go out from" but is used figuratively to mean "to start from the assumption that" or "assuming". By adding -de, it becomes a present participle (similar to an "-ing" word in English) used to set up the logical premise for the rest of the sentence.

What is the difference in nuance between uitgaande van and afgaande op?

You use uitgaande van when you are starting from an abstract premise, theory, or assumption, such as a hypothese. You use afgaande op when you are making a deduction based on visible evidence, physical clues, or outward appearances (for example, "judging by the look on his face").

Why does the main clause use the inverted word order zullen we instead of we zullen?

The entire participle phrase Uitgaande van deze hypothese occupies the first grammatical position in the sentence. Because Dutch strictly follows the V2 (verb-second) rule, the main conjugated verb (zullen) must immediately follow this opening phrase, pushing the subject (we) to the third position.

Why does the adjective vreemd have an -s added to the end?