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Getting the Jigsaw Right Posted by on Feb 11, 2012 in Grammar

This is by no means our first trip into the jungle of Danish nouns, articles and adjectives, and I can’t guarantee it will be the last! 😉 The rules are simple, and no one bites you if you make a mistake. But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t take the time to get your Danish grammar right!

Okay, you have a noun, let’s say hue (cap, pronounce ’hoo-eh’). You now want to describe this noun, using an adjective, let’s say brun (brown). As you may recall, Danish adjectives take one of three endings: -e, -t or no ending (basic form). One of these endings may also modify the basic shape of the adjective, e.g. grøn (green) becoming grønne with the e-ending attached.

Now, how should the adjective brun look when combined with the noun huebrun, brunt or brune? A way to decide this may be to ask yourself the following:

Is the adjective being introduced by a determiner that pins down a unique ’someone’ or ’something’ in the world?

If yes

>> Add an -e.

A determiner is a word that tells us something about the scope of a noun – like a, the, some, all. In Danish, those determiners that point to specific things or persons, cause the following adjective to take the e-ending:

den brune hue     the brown cap/that brown cap (not just any brown cap)
min brune hue     my brown cap (likewise, a particular cap in the world)
Oles to brune huer     Ole’s two brown caps

If no, continue with the question:

Is the noun plural?

If yes

>> Add an -e.

Hvorfor er brune huer altid brune?    Why are brown caps always brown?

If no, continue with the question:

 

Does the noun take the EN or the ET article?

 

>> Common gender (EN nouns) causes the adjective to appear in the basic form:

en brun hue    a brown cap

huen er brun    the cap is brown

>> Neuter (ET nouns) causes the adjective to take the t-ending:

et brunt dyr     a brown animal

dyret er brun    the animal is brown

 

The t-ending is also used to make adverbs (like -ly in English!):

Hvorfor er du altid så munter?     Why are you always so cheerful?

Hun smilte muntert.     She smiled cheerfully.

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About the Author: Bjørn A. Bojesen

I was born in Denmark, but spent large parts of my childhood and study years in Norway. I later returned to Denmark, where I finished my MA in Scandinavian Studies. Having relatives in Sweden as well, I feel very Scandinavian! I enjoy reading and travelling, and sharing stories with you! You’re always welcome to share your thoughts with me and the other readers.