Breakdown of Maskinen på fabrikken bliver repareret.
på
on / at / in (a language) / of (after nouns like end or start)
reparere
to repair
maskinen
the machine
blive
to be (passive auxiliary)
Questions & Answers about Maskinen på fabrikken bliver repareret.
Why do we use bliver here instead of er?
We use bliver to show the action passive - meaning the repair is happening right now (is being repaired). If you said er repareret, it would describe a finished state, meaning the machine is already completely fixed.
The English translation says 'is being repaired'. Where is the word for 'being'?
Danish doesn't use an '-ing' form like English does. The single word bliver (which normally means 'becomes') is used here as a helper verb. When you combine bliver with a past participle like repareret, it automatically means the action is currently happening.
Why do we say på fabrikken instead of i fabrikken?
In Danish, it is very common to use på (on/at) for workplaces, public buildings, and institutions. Just like you would say you work på et kontor (in an office), you say the machine is på fabrikken (at the factory).
Why does fabrikken have two k's?
The base word is fabrik (factory). When you add the definite ending -en to make it 'the factory', you double the final consonant to keep the 'i' sound short. That gives us fabrikken.