The Impersonal Existential Passive
In Danish, you can describe an action that happens generally without specifying who performs it. Use the dummy subject der (there) followed by a verb in the passive voice. This often translates to "there is [action] going on," "people [action]," or "[action] occurs."
The most common way to form this is with the s-passive (adding -s to the infinitive). It describes general activities and tendencies.
| A lot of partying goes on at the public beach if the weather is good. | Der festes meget på den offentlige strand hvis vejret er godt. |
| Cheating often occurs in the private club if people have a hard time winning. | Der snydes ofte i den private klub hvis man har svært ved at vinde. |
Public Notices, Rules, and Customs
Because this structure removes the "doer," it is perfect for public notices, rules, and customs, giving statements an official, objective tone.
| People are urged to arrive early. | Der opfordres til at man kommer tidligt. |
| It is the custom that a gift is given. | Det er skikken at der gives en gave. |
When stating rules with a modal verb (like må, meaning "may" or "is allowed to"), the modal verb remains active while the main verb takes the passive infinitive form.
| Partying is not allowed in the private summer house. | Der må ikke festes i det private sommerhus. |
The Impersonal Blive Passive
You can also use the blive passive (blive + past participle). While the s-passive often describes general rules or ongoing customs, the blive passive emphasizes specific actions happening in a given moment.
| A sign is being put up about the ban. | Der bliver sat et skilt op om forbuddet. |
| A lot of building is going on, and therefore the access is not public. | Der bliver bygget meget, og derfor er adgangen ikke offentlig. |