Breakdown of Die Choreografie ist schwierig, nichtsdestotrotz verlangt der Trainer Perfektion.
sein
to be
der Trainer
the trainer / the coach
schwierig
difficult
verlangen
to demand
die Perfektion
the perfection
die Choreografie
the choreography
nichtsdestotrotz
nevertheless
Questions & Answers about Die Choreografie ist schwierig, nichtsdestotrotz verlangt der Trainer Perfektion.
Why is the verb verlangt right after nichtsdestotrotz instead of the subject?
Because nichtsdestotrotz is an adverb, not a coordinating conjunction like aber or und. When it begins a clause, it takes up the first position. To maintain the strict verb-second rule in German main clauses, the verb verlangt must come immediately after it in position 2, pushing the subject der Trainer to position 3.
Is nichtsdestotrotz commonly used in everyday spoken German?
It is understood by everyone but sounds quite formal and heavy. In casual everyday conversation, native speakers are much more likely to use trotzdem or dennoch. You will mostly encounter nichtsdestotrotz in written German, formal speeches, or when someone wants to be highly emphatic.
What are the parts that make up the word nichtsdestotrotz?
It is a compound of nichts (nothing), desto (the/so much), and trotz (despite). Interestingly, it originated in the 19th century as a humorous student mashup of nichtsdestoweniger (nonetheless) and trotzdem (nevertheless), but it eventually became a completely standard and accepted word in the German dictionary.
Could I use fordert instead of verlangt here to mean 'demands'?
Yes, fordert (from fordern) also translates to 'demands' and would work perfectly. Verlangen often implies a strong expectation based on authority or standards, while fordern can sound slightly more forceful or urgent. However, in the context of a trainer pushing for perfection, they are practically interchangeable.
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