The Spoken "Which" or "What kind of"
While you can use words like hvilken, hvilket, and hvilke to ask "which" or "what kind of," spoken Danish heavily relies on a different, more conversational pattern: hvad for en, hvad for et, or hvad for nogle.
You choose the form based on the gender and number of the noun you are asking about.
Hvad for en (Common Gender)
For common-gender nouns (en-words), simply use hvad for en.
| What kind of screwdriver is in the toolbox? | Hvad for en skruetrækker ligger i værktøjskassen? |
| What kind of glue should we use for the project? | Hvad for en lim skal vi bruge til projektet? |
Hvad for et (Neuter Nouns)
When asking about a neuter noun (an et-word), use hvad for et.
| What kind of board do we need? | Hvad for et bræt har vi brug for? |
| Do you know what kind of nail we should use? | Ved du hvad for et søm vi skal bruge? |
Hvad for nogle (Plural Nouns)
When asking about multiple items, regardless of their gender, use hvad for nogle. This phrase works perfectly in both direct questions and indirect statements.
| What kind of materials should we buy? | Hvad for nogle materialer skal vi købe? |
| I always forget which screws you would prefer to have. | Jeg glemmer altid hvad for nogle skruer du helst vil have. |
In the Workshop
As you talk about tools and DIY projects, this pattern will quickly become second nature. Just pay attention to whether the tool or material takes en, et, or is plural, and match your question word accordingly.
| What kind of sandpaper would you prefer to use? | Hvad for et sandpapir vil du helst bruge? |
| What kind of spirit level is lying on the desk? | Hvad for et vaterpas ligger på skrivebordet? |
| What kind of hinges should the door have? | Hvad for nogle hængsler skal døren have? |
