The stative passive (tilstandspassiv)
When preparations for an event are complete, you often want to describe the resulting state of things (e.g., "The venue is reserved", "The table is set"). In Danish, this is called the stative passive (tilstandspassiv).
You form it by using the verb være (usually er in the present tense) followed by the past participle of the main verb.
| The venue is reserved for the party tomorrow. | Lokalet er reserveret til festen i morgen. |
| The table is also set. | Bordet er også dækket. |
| The food is arranged on the plates. | Maden er anrettet på tallerkenerne. |
Active actions vs. resulting states
Be careful not to confuse the stative passive with the active past perfect. If you use a form of have (like havde) with the past participle, you are describing the active action someone performed, rather than the resulting condition of the object.
| We had reserved the venue in January. | Vi havde reserveret lokalet i januar. |
| The chef had arranged the dessert before the break. | Kokken havde anrettet desserten før pausen. |
Likewise, you use standard active verbs when talking about the act of doing the preparation yourself.
| The waiter remembers to set the table. | Tjeneren husker at dække bordet. |
Describing placements and details
The stative passive is highly useful for describing exactly where items have been placed or how they have been prepared for guests.
| The name tag is placed by your chair. | Navneskiltet er placeret ved din stol. |
| The napkin is folded like a flower. | Servietten er foldet som en blomst. |
This structure is equally common when asking if a task is officially finished, or when stating that something is finally ready to be enjoyed.
| Is the guest list already approved? | Er gæstelisten allerede godkendt? |
| The welcome drink is served in the living room. | Velkomstdrinken er serveret i stuen. |
