Breakdown of Hvad for nogle materialer skal vi købe?
vi
we
købe
to buy
skulle
to have to / must / to be going to
materialet
the material
hvad for nogle
what kind of (plural)
Questions & Answers about Hvad for nogle materialer skal vi købe?
Why do we use hvad for nogle here instead of hvad for en or hvad for et?
The phrase hvad for nogle is the plural form of this question word. We use it here because it modifies the plural noun materialer. If you were asking about a singular common gender noun, you would use hvad for en, and for a singular neuter noun, hvad for et.
Could I use hvilke instead of hvad for nogle in this sentence?
Yes, Hvilke materialer skal vi købe? is completely correct. However, hvad for nogle is much more natural and common in everyday spoken Danish. Hvilke is a bit more formal and is mostly used in written Danish.
Why doesn't the verb skal come right after the question words hvad for nogle?
Danish follows the V2 (verb-second) rule, meaning the main verb must be the second piece of information in the sentence. The entire question phrase Hvad for nogle materialer counts as a single block in the first position. Therefore, the verb skal takes the second position, followed by the subject vi.
Why is skal translated as 'should' here, rather than 'must' or 'will'?
Skal is a very flexible modal verb. While it often expresses obligation ('must') or future plans ('will' / 'going to'), when it is used in a question asking for advice, instructions, or a shared decision, it translates best to 'should' or 'are we supposed to' in English.
Why is it materialer and not the definite form materialerne?
When you use hvad for nogle (what kind of / which), you are asking to identify things from an unspecified, general group. Because of this, it is always followed by the indefinite form of the noun, never the definite.
Learn Hvad for nogle materialer skal vi købe and more in Danish
All course content and exercises are completely free — no paywalls, no trial periods, no signup needed.
- ✓ Practice with interactive exercises
- ✓ Track your progress with spaced repetition
- ✓Learn at your own pace — completely free