ten spyte van/ondanks
Despite
Ten spyte van and ondanks mean despite: Ten spyte van die reën het ons gespeel. (Despite the rain, we played.)
How It Works
1. Before a noun. Ten spyte van and ondanks mean the same thing:
- Ten spyte van die reën het ons gespeel. (Despite the rain, we played.)
- Sy het ondanks haar siekte gaan werk. (She went to work despite her illness.)
Ten is an old form of te + article, kept only in fixed phrases (see ten and ter).
2. At the start of the sentence. The whole phrase fills first place, so the verb comes next (see verb second): Ten spyte van die reën het ons gespeel.
3. Despite that. For a thing, do not say ten spyte van dit. Join daar to van, as with daarmee and daaroor: Die pad was nat. Ten spyte daarvan het ons betyds aangekom.
4. Before a whole clause. A preposition cannot take a clause directly. Point ahead with daarvan, as in daaroor dat, or use die feit dat. The verb goes to the end of the dat clause:
- Ten spyte daarvan dat hy moeg was, het hy tot laat gewerk.
- Ondanks die feit dat die kaartjies duur was, was die saal vol.
For the same idea with a simple conjunction, use hoewel: Hoewel hy moeg was, het hy tot laat gewerk.
Examples (6)
- Ten spyte van die reën het ons gespeel.
Despite the rain, we played.
Word by Word: In spite of the rain have we played.
- Sy het ondanks haar siekte gaan werk.
She went to work despite her illness.
Word by Word: She has despite her illness go work.
- Hy is gelukkig, ten spyte van al sy probleme.
He is happy despite all his problems.
Word by Word: He is happy, in spite of all his problems.
- Ten spyte daarvan dat hy moeg was, het hy tot laat gewerk.
Even though he was tired, he worked until late.
Word by Word: In spite there-of that he tired was, has he till late worked.
Daarvan points ahead to the dat clause, whose verb goes to the end.
- Die pad was nat en glad. Ten spyte daarvan het ons betyds aangekom.
The road was wet and slippery. Despite that, we arrived on time.
Word by Word: The road was wet and slippery. In spite there-of have we on-time arrived.
- Ondanks die feit dat die kaartjies duur was, was die saal vol.
Despite the fact that the tickets were expensive, the hall was full.
Word by Word: Despite the fact that the tickets expensive were, was the hall full.
Common Mistakes
Putting a clause straight after ten spyte van.
Ten spyte van hy moeg was, het hy gewerk.Ten spyte daarvan dat hy moeg was, het hy gewerk.Ten spyte van is a preposition and needs a noun. Before a clause, use ten spyte daarvan dat, or the conjunction hoewel.
Using van dit instead of daarvan.
Ten spyte van dit het ons betyds aangekom.Ten spyte daarvan het ons betyds aangekom.When a preposition refers to a thing, Afrikaans joins daar to it: daarvan, not van dit.
Putting the subject before the verb after a fronted phrase.
Ten spyte van die reën ons het gespeel.Ten spyte van die reën het ons gespeel.The fronted phrase takes first place, so the verb comes second, before the subject.
How It Connects
Learn This First
Despite is the preposition partner of although.
Related Patterns
- weens/as gevolg vanBecause of
Because of, the preposition that gives a cause instead of an obstacle.
Level 4 - daarmee/hiervoor/daaroorDaarmee, Hiervoor, Daaroor
Explains why despite that is ten spyte daarvan.
Level 3 - daaroor dat / daarvan om teDaaroor Dat, Daarvan Om Te
Shows how daar + preposition points ahead to a dat clause.
Level 4 - ten/terFixed Phrases with Ten and Ter
Ten spyte van is one of the fixed phrases that keep the old form ten.
Level 5 - Verb Second After a Fronted Word
Explains why the verb comes right after a fronted ten spyte van phrase.
Level 2
Words in This Pattern
Practice ten spyte van/ondanks in Bubblegum
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