Breakdown of Ik besluit te blijven, ook al is het moeilijk.
moeilijk
difficult
blijven
to stay
besluiten te
to decide to
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Questions & Answers about Ik besluit te blijven, ook al is het moeilijk.
Why is there a te before blijven?
The verb besluiten (to decide) requires te when it is followed by another verb. Just like in English 'I decide to stay', you use besluit + te + the infinitive verb (blijven).
What does ook al mean in this sentence?
Ook al is a fixed phrase that translates to 'even though' or 'even if'. It is used to connect two parts of a sentence to show a contrast between them.
Why is the word order is het moeilijk instead of het is moeilijk or het moeilijk is?
The phrase ook al is a bit special in Dutch. Unlike linking words such as omdat (because) or hoewel (although) that push the verb to the very end of the sentence, ook al triggers 'inversion'. This means the verb and subject swap places right after it: ook al + verb (is) + subject (het).
Could I use hoewel (although) instead of ook al?
Yes, but you would have to change the word order! Because hoewel sends the verb to the end of the clause, the sentence would become: Ik besluit te blijven, hoewel het moeilijk is.