Conditional Clauses with "Hvis"
In Danish, hvis translates to "if". You use it to set up conditions, hypothetical scenarios, and contingency plans.
When you start a sentence with a hvis clause, that entire clause acts as the first element of the sentence. Because of the Danish V2 (verb-second) rule, the main clause that follows the comma must begin immediately with its verb. Notice how the subjects and verbs invert in the main clauses below (bliver vi instead of vi bliver, and bruger vi instead of vi bruger).
| If it thunders, we stay home. | Hvis det tordner, bliver vi hjemme. |
| If the power goes out, we use the phone. | Hvis strømmen går, bruger vi telefonen. |
"Hvis" in the Middle of a Sentence
Just like in English, you can also place the hvis clause in the second half of your sentence. When the main clause comes first, it follows normal word order (subject before verb) because it is no longer being pushed out of the first position.
| You must call the police if there is an emergency. | Du skal ringe til politiet hvis der er en nødsituation. |
| The child always cries if it thunders at night. | Barnet græder altid hvis det tordner om natten. |
| What should we do if the power goes out? | Hvad skal vi gøre hvis strømmen går? |
Preparing for Emergencies
Conditional clauses are especially useful when discussing contingency plans for extreme weather, accidents, insurance, or other unpredictable events. Pay attention to how the sentence structure adapts depending on where hvis is placed.
| If we do not watch out, the damage happens. | Hvis vi ikke passer på, sker skaden. |
| The insurance pays if there is damage. | Forsikringen betaler hvis der er en skade. |
| If you learn first aid, you can save a life. | Hvis du lærer førstehjælp, kan du redde et liv. |