Syntax: the structure of Danish sentences

Led-stilling

Affirmative sentences

Du	kender	mig.
subject	verb	object
You	know	me.

Jeg har aldrig givet hende en blomst før.

subject verb1 central adverb verb2 indirect object object adverb

I have never given her a flower before.

If a sentence begins with an adverb/adverbial expression, inversion applies:

Aldrig	har	jeg	givet	hende	en blomst	før.
central adverb	verb1	subject	verb2	indirect object	object	adverb
Never	have	I	given	her	a flower	before.

Tit har jeg givet ham bøger.

central adverb verb1 subject verb2 indirect object object

Often have I given him books.

In subordinate clauses the central adverb (ikke, aldrig, etc) is moved to the front of the verb, eg. Jeg ved, at du ikke har læst den. Jeg har hørt, at hun alligevel beståede.

Interrogative sentence (question):

The question is formed by inversion: the verb moves to the beginning of the sentence.

Kender du mig?

verb subject object
Know you me? (Do you know me?)

Må jeg låne det?

verb1 subject verb2 object

May I borrow this?

Short answers to Yes/No questions

Just like in English, there exist short answers to yes/no questions:

Taler du dansk? Do you speak Danish?	Ja, det gør jeg. / Ja, jeg gør. Yes, I do.	Nej, det gør jeg ikke. / Nej, jeg gør ej. No, I don't.
Må jeg læse det? May I read this?	Ja, det må du. / Ja, du må. Yes, you may.	Nej, det må du ikke. / Nej, du må ej. No, you may not.
Har du spist den? Have you eaten it?	Ja, det har jeg. / Ja, jeg har. Yes, I have.	Nej, det har jeg ikke. / Nej, jeg har ej. No, I haven't.

Tit	har	jeg	givet	ham	bøger.
central adverb	verb1	subject	verb2	indirect object	object
Often	have	I	given	him	books.

Kender	du	mig?
verb	subject	object
Know	you	me?	(Do you know me?)

Må	jeg	låne	det?
verb1	subject	verb2	object
May	I	borrow	this?