When explaining why something happened, Danish gives you two main options depending on what comes next: a noun or a full clause.
"Because of" a Noun: På grund af
To say "because of" followed directly by a noun phrase (like "the roadwork"), use på grund af.
| The bus is delayed because of the roadwork. | Bussen er forsinket på grund af vejarbejdet. |
| He is always late because of the rush hour. | Han kommer altid for sent på grund af myldretiden. |
"Because" of an Action: Fordi
To explain a cause using a full clause with a subject and verb, use the conjunction fordi (because).
| The bus is delayed because they are repairing the street. | Bussen er forsinket fordi de reparerer gaden. |
Compare these two sentences to see the difference in action:
| The train has stopped because of the signal error. | Toget er stoppet på grund af signalfejlen. |
| The train is not running because there is a signal error. | Toget kører ikke fordi der er en signalfejl. |
Blaming the Weather and Traffic
You will frequently hear på grund af when navigating Danish public transport or excusing yourself for being late. It is the standard way to blame delays on accidents, bad weather, or mechanical issues.
| The road is blocked because of a traffic accident. | Vejen er spærret på grund af et trafikuheld. |
| It is cold because of the blizzard. | Det er koldt på grund af snestormen. |
| My sister is delayed because of a flat tire. | Min søster er forsinket på grund af en punktering. |
| The meeting is canceled because of the power outage. | Mødet er aflyst på grund af strømafbrydelsen. |
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