Breakdown of Når vi taler om overtroen, banker vi altid under bordet.
bordet
the table
vi
we
tale
to speak
altid
always
når
when
under
under, below
om
about (concerning)
overtroen
the superstition
banke
to knock
Questions & Answers about Når vi taler om overtroen, banker vi altid under bordet.
Why is it banker vi instead of vi banker in the second half of the sentence?
This is the V2 rule in action! The entire first part of the sentence (Når vi taler om overtroen) acts as a single block that takes up the first position. Because the verb must come second in a main clause, the verb banker comes right after the comma, followed by the subject vi.
Where do I put words like altid when the subject and verb are swapped?
In a main clause with inverted word order (where the verb comes before the subject), central adverbs like altid (always) or ikke (not) go directly after the subject. That is why it is banker vi altid and not banker altid vi.
Why does overtro have an -en at the end here?
The suffix -en makes the noun definite, turning it into the English equivalent of the superstition. Just like bordet means the table (from et bord), overtroen means the superstition (from en overtro).
Do Danes really say they knock under the table?
Yes! While English speakers usually say knock on wood, the common Danish expression to avoid jinxing something is at banke under bordet (to knock under the table).
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