Word
Han er vred fordi hun ikke fortæller ham sandheden.
Meaning
He is angry because she does not tell him the truth.
Part of speech
sentence
Pronunciation
Course
Questions & Answers about Han er vred fordi hun ikke fortæller ham sandheden.
Why is ikke placed before fortæller here?
This is the core rule for subordinate clauses! In a normal main sentence, ikke comes after the verb. But since this part of the sentence starts with fordi (because), it forms a subordinate clause. In Danish subordinate clauses, small adverbs like ikke must go before the verb.
Can I just say Han er vred fordi hun fortæller ham ikke sandheden?
No, that would sound wrong in Danish. Even though hun fortæller ham ikke sandheden is the correct word order if it were a standalone main sentence, the rule for putting ikke before the verb in a subordinate clause is strict and must be followed after words like fordi.
Are there other words besides fordi that change the word order like this?
Yes! Other linking words that introduce subordinate clauses will also force ikke to step in front of the verb. Common beginner examples include at (that), hvis (if), and når (when).
How does sandheden translate to the truth?
Sandhed is the base word meaning truth. Because Danish attaches definite articles to the end of the noun instead of putting a separate word in front, we add the suffix -en to make it sandheden (the truth).