Formal Conditions with "såfremt"
In Danish, såfremt is a formal subordinating conjunction that translates to "provided that" or "in the event that." It functions grammatically just like hvis (if), but it is used almost exclusively in formal, written contexts such as contracts, business agreements, and legal documents.
| provided that | såfremt |
Because såfremt introduces a subordinate clause, it connects a specific condition or stipulation to a main action.
| We will send the invoice tomorrow provided that the work is finished. | Vi sender fakturaen i morgen såfremt arbejdet er færdigt. |
| We can terminate the contract provided that you breach it. | Vi kan ophæve kontrakten såfremt du misligholder den. |
Starting the Sentence with "såfremt"
You will frequently see the såfremt clause placed at the very beginning of a sentence to establish the condition upfront.
Remember that when a subordinate clause comes first, it occupies the first position in the overall sentence. To satisfy the V2 (verb-second) rule, the main clause that immediately follows it must begin with its verb.
| Provided that you order now, we will pay the expense. | Såfremt du bestiller nu, betaler vi omkostningen. |
| Provided that she refuses consent, the agreement will lapse. | Såfremt hun nægter samtykke, vil aftalen bortfalde. |
Additional Contract Vocabulary
Alongside såfremt, business texts rely on other formal vocabulary to set terms. You will often see medmindre (unless) used to establish negative conditions, as well as specific legal terms like klausul (clause) and bortfalde (to lapse or become invalid).
| We terminate the subscription unless the invoice is paid. | Vi ophæver abonnementet medmindre fakturaen bliver betalt. |
| This reservation means that the clause can lapse. | Dette forbehold betyder at klausulen kan bortfalde. |
