Language/Danish/Grammar/Questions-and-Negations

◀️ Subject-Verb-Object — Previous Lesson

Next Lesson — Numbers 1-100 ▶️

Danish → Grammar → 0 to A1 Course → Basic Sentence Structure and Word Order → Questions and Negations

Introduction

Welcome to the lesson on forming questions and negations in Danish! In this lesson, we will explore how to alter word order and use specific words to ask questions and create negations. Understanding these concepts is crucial for mastering the Danish language and becoming a confident speaker. By the end of this lesson, you will be able to construct questions and negations with ease. So let's dive in!

Basic Sentence Structure Review

Before we delve into questions and negations, let's quickly review the basic sentence structure in Danish. Danish follows the Subject-Verb-Object (SVO) order, just like English. This means that the subject of the sentence usually comes before the verb, and the verb comes before the object.

For example:

• English: "I'm eating an apple."
• Danish: "Jeg spiser et æble."

In this example, "jeg" (I'm) is the subject, "spiser" (eating) is the verb, and "et æble" (an apple) is the object.

Now that we have refreshed our memory on basic sentence structure, let's move on to forming questions in Danish.

Forming Questions

In Danish, questions can be formed by altering the word order or by using question words. Let's explore both methods in more detail.

Word Order Questions

One way to form questions in Danish is by altering the word order. In a question, the verb usually comes before the subject. Let's look at an example:

• Statement: "Du taler dansk." (You speak Danish.)
• Question: "Taler du dansk?" (Do you speak Danish?)

As you can see, the verb "taler" (speak) is placed before the subject "du" (you) in the question.

Here's another example:

• Statement: "Hun køber en bog." (She buys a book.)
• Question: "Køber hun en bog?" (Does she buy a book?)

In this case, the verb "køber" (buys) is placed before the subject "hun" (she) in the question.

It's important to note that when forming questions using word order, the sentence still follows the SVO structure. Only the position of the subject and verb is altered.

Question Words

Another method to form questions in Danish is by using question words. Question words are used to ask for specific information. Let's take a look at some common question words in Danish:

• Hvad (What)
• Hvem (Who)
• Hvor (Where)
• Hvorfor (Why)
• Hvornår (When)
• Hvilken/Hvilket/Hvilke (Which)
• Hvor mange (How many)
• Hvor meget (How much)

To form a question using question words, the word order remains the same as in a statement. The question word is simply added at the beginning of the sentence.

Here are a few examples:

• Statement: "Hun taler dansk." (She speaks Danish.)
• Question: "Hvad taler hun?" (What does she speak?)

• Statement: "Jeg bor i København." (I live in Copenhagen.)
• Question: "Hvor bor jeg?" (Where do I live?)

• Statement: "De læser en bog." (They read a book.)
• Question: "Hvilken bog læser de?" (Which book do they read?)

As you can see, the question word is placed at the beginning of the sentence, and the rest of the sentence follows the regular SVO structure.

Now that we have covered the basics of forming questions in Danish, let's move on to negations.

Forming Negations

In Danish, negations are formed by adding the word "ikke" (not) after the verb. Let's look at some examples:

• Statement: "Jeg taler dansk." (I speak Danish.)
• Negation: "Jeg taler ikke dansk." (I do not speak Danish.)

• Statement: "Han køber en bog." (He buys a book.)
• Negation: "Han køber ikke en bog." (He does not buy a book.)

In both examples, the word "ikke" is added after the verb to create the negation.

It's important to note that when forming negations, the rest of the sentence follows the regular SVO structure. Only the word "ikke" is added after the verb.

Let's look at another example:

• Statement: "Vi spiser morgenmad." (We eat breakfast.)
• Negation: "Vi spiser ikke morgenmad." (We do not eat breakfast.)

In this case, the word "ikke" is added after the verb "spiser" (eat) to form the negation.

Now that we have learned how to form questions and negations in Danish, let's move on to some practice exercises to solidify our understanding.

Practice Exercises

Now it's time to put what we've learned into practice! Complete the following exercises to strengthen your skills in forming questions and negations in Danish.

Exercise 1: Word Order Questions Reorder the words to form questions in Danish. Write your answers in the space provided. 1. taler / dansk / du? 2. læser / hun / en bog? 3. køber / de / en bil? 4. bor / hvor / I? 5. spiser / hvad / de?

Solution: 1. Taler du dansk? 2. Læser hun en bog? 3. Køber de en bil? 4. Hvor bor I? 5. Hvad spiser de?

Exercise 2: Negations Create negations by adding "ikke" after the verb. Write your answers in the space provided. 1. Jeg taler dansk. 2. Han læser en avis. 3. Vi køber en gave. 4. De besøger deres familie. 5. Du forstår dansk.

Solution: 1. Jeg taler ikke dansk. 2. Han læser ikke en avis. 3. Vi køber ikke en gave. 4. De besøger ikke deres familie. 5. Du forstår ikke dansk.

Great job! You've completed the practice exercises. Now let's move on to the cultural section to learn more about Danish language and culture.

Danish Culture and Language

Denmark, officially known as the Kingdom of Denmark, is a Nordic country located in Northern Europe. Danish is the official language of Denmark and is spoken by approximately 6 million people. Danish is also recognized as a minority language in the German state of Schleswig-Holstein.

Danish is a North Germanic language, closely related to Swedish and Norwegian. While Danish shares many similarities with these languages, it also has its own unique characteristics. One notable feature of the Danish language is its pronunciation, which includes many subtle sounds and vowel variations.

In Danish culture, politeness and equality are highly valued. Danish people often address each other by their first names, regardless of age or social status. This informal approach is reflected in the Danish language, where the use of "du" (you) is common in both formal and informal settings. However, when addressing someone older or in a formal setting, it is polite to use "De" (you) instead.

Denmark is also known for its strong emphasis on work-life balance and the concept of "hygge." Hygge can be described as a feeling of coziness, contentment, and well-being. Danish people often prioritize spending quality time with family and friends, and creating a warm and welcoming atmosphere in their homes.

Conclusion

Congratulations! You have successfully learned how to form questions and negations in Danish. By altering word order and using specific words, you can now construct questions and negations with confidence. Remember to practice these concepts regularly to reinforce your understanding. In the next lesson, we will explore numbers, dates, and time in Danish. Keep up the great work!

Table of Contents - Danish Course - 0 to A1

• Course Presentation

  ---

Introduction to Danish Alphabet and Pronunciation

• Danish Alphabet
• Pronunciation Basics

  ---

Everyday Phrases and Greetings

• Greetings and Introductions
• Common Phrases

  ---

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

• The question–response system of Danish - ScienceDirect
• Danish Grammar | LEARN101.ORG

Other Lessons

• Plurals and Possessives
• Verbs (Present Tense)
• Present Continuous in Danish
• The Genitive Case in Danish
• Present Tense
• How to use “to be” with names and places
• Subject Verb Object
• How to use “can” in Danish
• How to Use Be
• Pronouns

◀️ Subject-Verb-Object — Previous Lesson

Next Lesson — Numbers 1-100 ▶️