Breakdown of I år har vi ikke råd til at købe båden fordi vi prioriterer vores sundhed.
vi
we
ikke
not
købe
to buy
vores
our / ours
at
to
fordi
because
båden
the boat
i år
this year
have råd til
to afford
prioritere
to prioritize
sundheden
the health
Questions & Answers about I år har vi ikke råd til at købe båden fordi vi prioriterer vores sundhed.
How does the phrase have råd til connect to the verb købe in this sentence?
The fixed expression have råd til means 'to be able to afford'. When you want to say you can afford to do an action, you follow til with the infinitive marker at and the verb. Here, that gives us til at købe (to buy).
Why does ikke split the phrase har råd?
Although have råd translates to the single English verb 'afford', in Danish have is the conjugated verb and råd acts as a noun object. In a main clause, central adverbs like ikke must come after the conjugated verb and the subject, resulting in har vi ikke råd.
Why does the sentence say har vi instead of vi har?
This is a classic example of the V2 (verb-second) rule. Because the sentence starts with the time phrase I år (this year), the conjugated verb har must take the second position. The subject vi is then pushed right after the verb.
What does the word råd literally mean outside of this expression?
Outside of this fixed construction, et råd usually translates to 'advice' or 'counsel' (like a city council). In the context of have råd til, it refers to having the means or financial resources to do something.
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