Language/Danish/Grammar/Plurals-and-Possessives

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Danish → Grammar → 0 to A1 Course → Nouns and Articles → Plurals and Possessives

Introduction

In this lesson, we will delve into the topic of plurals and possessives in Danish. Understanding how to form plurals and possessives is essential for building sentences and expressing ownership in the Danish language. We will explore the different rules and patterns for creating plurals and possessives, including regular and irregular forms. By the end of this lesson, you will be able to confidently use plurals and possessives in your Danish conversations.

Plurals in Danish

Plurals in Danish are formed in various ways, depending on the gender and ending of the noun. Let's take a closer look at the different rules for creating plurals:

Regular Plurals

Most Danish nouns form their plurals by adding the suffix "-er" to the singular form. Here are some examples:

Danish	Pronunciation	English
en bil	en beel	a car
biler	beeler	cars
en bog	en bo	a book
bøger	boeyer	books
en hund	en hunt	a dog
hunde	hunner	dogs
en kvinde	en kveen-deh	a woman
kvinder	kveen-der	women

As you can see, most of the singular nouns simply add "-er" to form the plural. However, there are some exceptions to this rule.

Irregular Plurals

In Danish, there are a number of irregular plurals that do not follow the regular "-er" pattern. Here are some examples:

Danish	Pronunciation	English
en mand	en man	a man
mænd	man	men
en kvinde	en kveen-deh	a woman
kvinder	kveen-der	women
en barn	en baan	a child
børn	baan	children
en fisk	en fisk	a fish
fisk	fisk	fish

As you can see, the plurals of these nouns do not follow a predictable pattern and must be learned individually.

Plurals with Umlaut

Some Danish nouns undergo a vowel change, known as umlaut, when forming the plural. Here are some examples:

Danish	Pronunciation	English
en fod	en foed	a foot
fødder	foether	feet
en hånd	en hoon	a hand
hænder	hender	hands
en tand	en taand	a tooth
tænder	taender	teeth

In these examples, the vowel in the stem of the noun changes in the plural form. This is known as umlaut and is a common feature in Danish.

Possessives in Danish

Possessives in Danish are used to indicate ownership or belonging. They are formed by adding an appropriate possessive ending to the noun. Let's explore the different rules for creating possessives:

Singular Possessives

In Danish, singular possessives are formed by adding an "-s" to the noun. Here are some examples:

Danish	Pronunciation	English
en bil	en beel	a car
bilens	beelens	the car's
en bog	en bo	a book
bogens	boens	the book's
en hund	en hunt	a dog
hundens	huntens	the dog's
en kvinde	en kveen-deh	a woman
kvindens	kveen-dens	the woman's

As you can see, the "-s" possessive ending is added directly to the noun. However, there are some exceptions to this rule.

Irregular Possessives

Just like with plurals, there are irregular possessive forms in Danish. Here are some examples:

Danish	Pronunciation	English
en mand	en man	a man
mandens	manens	the man's
en kvinde	en kveen-deh	a woman
kvindens	kveen-dens	the woman's
et barn	et baan	a child
barnets	baanets	the child's
en fisk	en fisk	a fish
fiskens	fiskens	the fish's

As you can see, the possessive forms of these irregular nouns do not follow a predictable pattern and must be learned individually.

Plural Possessives

In Danish, plural possessives are formed by adding an "-e" to the noun. Here are some examples:

Danish	Pronunciation	English
biler	beeler	cars
bilernes	beelernes	the cars'
bøger	boeyer	books
bøgernes	boeyernes	the books'
hunde	hunner	dogs
hundenes	hunnes	the dogs'
kvinder	kveen-der	women
kvindernes	kveen-der-nes	the women's

In these examples, the "-e" possessive ending is added to the plural noun.

Cultural Insight

In Danish culture, it is common for people to use possessive forms when referring to objects that they own. This is seen as a way to express a sense of personal attachment and responsibility. For example, instead of saying "the car," a Danish person might say "my car" or "the car of mine." This linguistic habit reflects the Danish value of personal ownership and connection.

Exercises

Now it's time to practice what you've learned. Here are some exercises to help you solidify your understanding of plurals and possessives in Danish:

Exercise 1: Forming Plurals - Change the following singular nouns into their plural forms:

 - en bog (a book)
 - en kvinde (a woman)
 - en hund (a dog)
 - en mand (a man)

Exercise 2: Forming Possessives - Add the appropriate possessive ending to the following nouns:

 - en bil (a car)
 - en bog (a book)
 - en hund (a dog)
 - en mand (a man)

Exercise 3: Plurals and Possessives - Combine the skills you've learned by forming both the plural and possessive forms of the following nouns:

 - en bog (a book)
 - en kvinde (a woman)
 - en hund (a dog)
 - en mand (a man)

Solutions

Exercise 1: Forming Plurals - bøger - kvinder - hunde - mænd

Exercise 2: Forming Possessives - bilens - bogens - hundens - mandens

Exercise 3: Plurals and Possessives - bøgers - kvindens - hundens - mænds

By completing these exercises, you have practiced forming plurals and possessives in Danish. Well done!

{{#seo: |title=Danish Grammar → Nouns and Articles → Plurals and Possessives |keywords=Danish grammar, Danish nouns, Danish articles, Danish plurals, Danish possessives |description=Learn how to form plurals and possessives in Danish, including regular and irregular forms. Practice exercises included for comprehensive understanding.

Table of Contents - Danish Course - 0 to A1

• Course Presentation

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Introduction to Danish Alphabet and Pronunciation

• Danish Alphabet
• Pronunciation Basics

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Everyday Phrases and Greetings

• Greetings and Introductions
• Common Phrases

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Basic Sentence Structure and Word Order

• Subject-Verb-Object
• Questions and Negations

  ---

Numbers, Dates, and Time

• Numbers 1-100
• Days, Months, and Seasons
• Telling Time

  ---

Nouns and Articles

• Definite and Indefinite Articles
• Plurals and Possessives

  ---

Family, Relationships, and Occupations

• Family Members
• Relationships
• Occupations

  ---

Adjectives and Adverbs

• Adjective Forms and Agreement
• Comparatives and Superlatives
• Adverbs

  ---

Food, Drinks, and Dining

• Food and Drinks
• Dining Out

  ---

Verbs and Tenses

• Regular Verbs
• Irregular Verbs
• Modal Verbs

  ---

Travel and Transportation

• Modes of Transportation
• Travel Vocabulary

  ---

Danish Culture and Traditions

• Holidays and Celebrations
• Danish Customs and Etiquette

Sources

• Danish grammar - Wikipedia

Other Lessons

• How to use “to speak” in Danish
• Questions
• Word Order
• Cardinal Numbers in Danish
• Adverbs
• Subject Verb Object
• Interrogative words in Danish
• Irregular Verbs
• Adjective Forms and Agreement
• How to use “to be” with names and places

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