Learn Danish: Behøver jeg at betale?

In Danish, you don't use a helper word like 'do' to ask a question. Instead, you simply swap the subject (jeg) and the verb (behøver). Starting the sentence directly with the verb turns it into a yes/no question, so Behøver jeg at betale? literally translates to 'Need I to pay?'.

Why is the word at used before betale?

at is the infinitive marker, just like the word 'to' in the English phrase 'to pay'. While common Danish modal verbs like skal (must) or kan (can) are followed by a verb without at, the verb behøver usually requires at to connect it to the next action.

Could I say Skal jeg betale? instead?

Yes, but it changes the tone slightly. Skal jeg betale? means 'Must I pay?' or 'Am I supposed to pay?'. Using Behøver jeg at betale? specifically asks 'Do I need to pay?', focusing on whether it is strictly necessary.

Is the verb behøver related to the Danish noun behov?

Yes, they come from the same root! et behov is a noun meaning 'a need' or 'a necessity'. Remembering this link makes it much easier to recall that behøver means 'to need'.