Questions & Answers about De griner altid når jeg ikke ser fejlen.
Why is ikke placed before ser here? I thought ikke usually comes after the verb.
You are right that in a normal main sentence, ikke comes after the verb (like jeg ser ikke). However, the word når (when) starts a subordinate clause, which is a sentence part that cannot stand alone. In Danish subordinate clauses, small adverbs like ikke must go before the verb. So it becomes når jeg ikke ser.
Why does altid come after griner, but ikke comes before ser?
It all comes down to the type of clause! De griner altid is a main clause, so the verb stays in its normal position and the adverb (altid) follows it. But når jeg ikke ser fejlen is a subordinate clause, which triggers the special rule where the adverb (ikke) jumps in front of the verb.
Why is it fejlen and not just fejl?
Fejlen is the definite form of the noun en fejl (a mistake). In Danish, to say 'the mistake', you attach the article to the end of the word, making it fejlen.
Can I use a different word for 'when' here?
In this case, når is the correct word. Danish uses når for 'when' when talking about the present, the future, or things that happen repeatedly (like when they 'always' laugh). You might also learn the word da later, but that is only used for a single finished event in the past.