Breakdown of Du må klage til receptionisten over at værelset er ulækkert.
være
to be
du
you
værelset
the room
til
to (preposition) / for (purpose) / at (an event or occasion) / at (good at something)
måtte
to be allowed to / must
at
that
over
about (after 'to wonder')
klage
to complain
receptionisten
the receptionist
ulækker
disgusting
Questions & Answers about Du må klage til receptionisten over at værelset er ulækkert.
Why do we say over at instead of just at for "that"?
In Danish, when a verb requires a specific preposition like at klage over (to complain about), you must keep that preposition even when introducing a new clause with at (that). English usually drops the preposition in these cases ("complain that"), but Danish keeps it to form klage over at.
Why use the preposition over here?
The verb at klage (to complain) uses specific prepositions to show who you are talking to and what the problem is. You complain til (to) a person, and you complain over (about) a situation or thing.
I thought må meant "may" or "am allowed to". Why does it mean "must" here?
The modal verb at måtte (må in the present tense) is a bit tricky because it can mean both "may" (having permission) and "must" (an obligation or strong advice) depending on the context. In this sentence, it acts as a strong recommendation.
Why does the adjective ulækkert end in a -t?
It is describing værelset (the room). Because the root word et værelse is a neuter noun (an et-word), any adjective describing it must also take the neuter -t ending to match.
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