Questions & Answers about Bor du tæt på?
Why is there a på at the very end of the sentence?
In Danish, the standard phrase for "close by" or "close to" is tæt på. Even though there is no specific place mentioned after it (like "close to the station"), you still keep på to complete the phrase. It works very similarly to "by" in the English phrase "close by".
Could I leave out på and just ask "Bor du tæt?"
No, you really need på in this context. Without it, the word tæt usually translates to "tight", "dense", or "waterproof". When talking about physical distance, always use the full phrase tæt på.
I often mix up bo and leve. Why is it bor here?
You use at bo (present tense bor) when talking about residing somewhere, such as living in a house, an apartment, or a specific city. You use at leve when talking about being alive or surviving. Since this sentence is about where someone's home is located, bor is the correct verb.
Why does the sentence start directly with the verb Bor?
This is how Danish creates "yes/no" questions. By moving the verb to the very front of the sentence, a normal statement like Du bor tæt på (You live close by) instantly becomes the question Bor du tæt på? (Do you live close by?).
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