Pointing Things Out: "This" and "That"
In everyday spoken Danish, the most common way to say "this" or "that" is by combining a definite article (den, det, or de) with her (here) or der (there). The noun that follows stays in its basic, uninflected form.
For common gender (en) words, use den her (this) and den der (that).
| He wants to buy this vase at the flea market. | Han vil gerne købe den her vase på loppemarkedet. |
| How much does this ring cost? | Hvad koster den her ring? |
Neuter Words
For neuter (et) words, use det her (this) and det der (that).
| Can you see that cabinet over there? | Kan du se det der skab derovre? |
| I think that this piece of jewelry is genuine. | Jeg tror at det her smykke er ægte. |
These phrases are perfect for comparing items in a shop:
| That ring is beautiful, but I like this piece of jewelry. | Den der ring er flot, men jeg kan godt lide det her smykke. |
Plurals: "These" and "Those"
When talking about multiple items, use de her (these) and de der (those). The plural form is the same for both en and et words.
| She likes this old furniture. | Hun kan godt lide de her gamle møbler. |
| Do you think that those small rings are real gold? | Tror du at de der små ringe er ægte guld? |
Describing Condition
When shopping at a flea market (loppemarkedet), you will often discuss an item's condition (standen) using adjectives like slidt (worn) or brugt (used).
| This book is too worn, and the condition is bad. | Den her bog er for slidt, og standen er dårlig. |
If you place an adjective between the demonstrative and the noun, it takes its definite form (usually ending in -e).
| This used piece of jewelry is in good condition. | Det her brugte smykke er i god stand. |
