Breakdown of Efter at have læst bogen forstod jeg mere.
jeg
I
læse
to read
bogen
the book
have
to have
forstå
to understand
at
to
mere
more / anymore (with a negative)
efter
after
Questions & Answers about Efter at have læst bogen forstod jeg mere.
Why is there an at between efter and have?
In Danish, when a preposition like efter is followed directly by an action, you must use at plus the infinitive verb. This structure often corresponds to English words ending in -ing, such as saying after having read.
Why is the word order forstod jeg instead of jeg forstod?
This is a classic example of the V2 (verb-second) rule. The entire opening phrase Efter at have læst bogen acts as the first element of the sentence. Because the main verb must come second, the verb forstod swaps places with the subject jeg.
Can I phrase the first part differently, using havde instead of at have?
Yes, you can turn it into a full subordinate clause by adding a subject: Efter at jeg havde læst bogen (After I had read the book). Both versions are natural and commonly used, though the version in this sentence is slightly more concise.
What is the base form of the irregular verb forstod?
The infinitive is at forstå (to understand). Its core forms are forstår in the present tense, forstod in the past tense, and har forstået in the present perfect tense.
Learn Efter at have læst bogen forstod jeg mere 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