hoe ... ook

Hoe ... Ook (However)

Level 5

Use hoe ... ook to express that a specific quality (like speed, difficulty, or frequency) does not change the outcome of the main clause. It translates to 'no matter how [adjective]' or 'however [adjective]'.

How It Works

The hoe ... ook pattern is a concessive degree construction. Unlike hoewel (although), which concedes a specific fact, hoe ... ook concedes the intensity or degree of a quality.

1. Word Order
The clause starting with hoe is a subordinate clause, so the conjugated verb must go to the end. The particle ook is mandatory and usually follows the subject immediately.

2. The Main Clause (No Inversion)
Crucially, the hoe ... ook clause functions as an aanloop (pre-fronting). This means it sits outside the main sentence structure. Therefore, the main clause often follows standard S-V-O order without inversion. For example: Hoe moe hij ook is, hij gaat door (common) vs. Hoe moe hij ook is, gaat hij door (also possible).

3. Hoe vs. Hoezeer
Use hoe with adjectives (hoe groot) or adverbs (hoe snel). However, if you want to concede the degree of a verb's action, you usually use hoezeer (e.g., Hoezeer ik ook van haar hou... - No matter how much I love her...).

4. Elliptical Usage
In many cases, especially in written Dutch or short remarks, the subject and verb are omitted for brevity: een prachtig resultaat, hoe moeilijk ook (a beautiful result, however difficult [it was]).

Examples (5)

  1. Hoe moeilijk het ook is, we geven niet op.

    However difficult it is, we are not giving up.

    Word by Word: How difficult it also is, we give not up.

    Here, 'moeilijk' is the adjective. Notice 'is' moves to the end of the first clause, and the main clause starts with the subject 'we' (no inversion).

  2. Hoe vaak ik het ook uitleg, hij snapt het maar niet.

    No matter how often I explain it, he just doesn't get it.

    Word by Word: How often I it also explain, he understands it just not.

    This uses the adverb 'vaak' (often). The particle 'ook' follows the subject 'ik'.

  3. Hoezeer ik ook probeer, het lukt me niet.

    No matter how much I try, I don't succeed.

    Word by Word: How-much I also try, it succeeds me not.

    When modifying a verb (proberen) rather than an adjective, 'hoezeer' is used instead of 'hoe'.

  4. Elke bijdrage is welkom, hoe klein ook.

    Every contribution is welcome, no matter how small.

    Word by Word: Every contribution is welcome, how small also.

    This is an elliptical (shortened) construction where the subject and verb are omitted.

  5. Hoe rijk hij ook wordt, hij blijft bescheiden.

    No matter how rich he becomes, he remains modest.

    Word by Word: How rich he also becomes, he remains modest.

    The verb 'wordt' is at the end of the subclause. The main clause starts with 'hij' (subject) because the first clause acts as a pre-fronting element.

Common Mistakes

  • Omitting the particle 'ook'.

    Hoe moe hij is, hij werkt door.
    Hoe moe hij ook is, hij werkt door.

    Without 'ook', the sentence sounds like an indirect question ('How tired he is...') rather than a concession ('No matter how tired he is...'). 'Ook' is required for this meaning.

  • Using main clause word order in the 'hoe' clause.

    Hoe duur is het ook, ik koop het.
    Hoe duur het ook is, ik koop het.

    The 'hoe ... ook' clause is a subordinate clause, so the verb must come after the subject and 'ook', not immediately after the adjective.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

hoe ... ookLevel 5Hoe ... Ook (However)

Learn This First

To learn 'hoe ... ook' (however/no matter how), you first need to understand how to use the question word 'hoe' and how adjectives function in a sentence. Crucially, because this construction forms a subordinate clause, you must be comfortable with Dutch SOV (verb-final) word order.

Words in This Pattern

hoeook