Questions & Answers about Sommeren er forbi.
Why do we use forbi here instead of over?
In English, we say a season is "over", but in Danish, over almost always refers to a physical position (above or across). To express that a time period or event has ended, you must use forbi (literally "past") or slut (finished).
Could I say Sommeren er slut instead?
Yes, Sommeren er slut is completely natural and means the same thing. Forbi carries a slight nuance of the season having passed by, while slut focuses purely on the fact that it has ended. Native speakers use them interchangeably in this context.
Does forbi need an -e ending if we are talking about multiple summers?
No, forbi is invariable. Because it functions as an adverb of time or direction, it never takes a -t or -e ending when describing a noun. It stays exactly the same whether the subject is common, neuter, or plural, as in Somrene er forbi.
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