Adverbs in Complex Tenses
When a main clause contains both a helping verb (like har) and a main verb (like bestiget), central adverbs such as ikke (not), aldrig (never), or altid (always) are placed between the two verbs.
| Subject | Helping Verb | Adverb | Main Verb | Rest of sentence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jeg | har | aldrig | bestiget | bjerget. |
| Hun | har | ikke | vovet | at prøve faldskærmen endnu. |
| I have never climbed the mountain. | Jeg har aldrig bestiget bjerget. |
| She has not dared to try the parachute yet. | Hun har ikke vovet at prøve faldskærmen endnu. |
| They have always dived, but they have never surfed. | De har altid dykket, men de har aldrig surfet. |
This rule applies to all central adverbs, even when combined:
| The boy has actually not completed the marathon. | Drengen har faktisk ikke gennemført maratonet. |
Asking Questions
When asking a yes/no question, the subject and the helping verb swap places. The central adverb stays right before the main verb.
| Have you never climbed the volcano? | Har du aldrig bestiget vulkanen? |
The V2 Rule with Helping Verbs
If you emphasize when something hasn't happened yet by putting a time phrase at the front of the sentence, the V2 rule still applies. The helping verb takes the second position, pushing the subject to the third position. The adverb follows the subject, remaining right before the main verb.
| This year, they have not completed the trip in the desert. | I år har de ikke gennemført turen i ørkenen. |
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