Breakdown of Jeg vasker altid op før jeg går i seng.
jeg
I
altid
always
før
before
vaske op
to do the dishes
Questions & Answers about Jeg vasker altid op før jeg går i seng.
How does the word før affect the sentence structure here?
Før (before) is a subordinating conjunction, which means it links a dependent clause (før jeg går i seng) to the main sentence. In Danish subordinate clauses, the subject still comes first, so the word order here looks exactly like English: subject (jeg) followed by the verb (går).
Why is altid placed between vasker and op?
At vaske op (to wash up or do the dishes) is a phrasal verb. In a main clause, central adverbs like altid (always) must come immediately after the main verb. This splits the verb and its extra word, giving us vasker altid op.
If I added an adverb like ofte (often) to the second part of the sentence, where would it go?
Because før starts a subordinate clause, the adverb rule changes! In a subordinate clause, central adverbs like ofte or ikke must come before the verb. So it would become før jeg ofte går i seng.
Does går i seng literally translate to "go to bed"?
Literally, it translates to "go in bed" (i = in, seng = bed). This is the standard Danish expression for going to bed or turning in for the night. Notice that it uses i rather than a word for "to" like til.