Hun ved at det at løbe altid forbedrer fordøjelsen.
She knows that running always improves digestion.
Breakdown of Hun ved at det at løbe altid forbedrer fordøjelsen.
hun
she
det
it (neuter)
løbe
to run
altid
always
Questions & Answers about Hun ved at det at løbe altid forbedrer fordøjelsen.
Why are there two instances of at so close together in at det at?
The first at is a subordinating conjunction meaning "that" (She knows that...). The second at is part of the det at structure, which serves as the infinitive marker "to" for the verb løbe while turning it into a noun phrase.
Why do we use det at løbe here instead of just at løbe for the subject?
If we didn't use det, the sentence would be Hun ved at at løbe... Having two ats back-to-back is clunky and confusing. Adding det creates a neat package meaning "the act of running," making it a clear subject while avoiding the double at.
Why is the adverb altid placed before the verb forbedrer?
Because this part of the sentence is a subordinate clause, triggered by the first at. In Danish subordinate clauses, central adverbs like altid (always) must be placed before the conjugated verb, unlike in main clauses where they come after.
Why does Danish use the definite form fordøjelsen (the digestion) instead of the indefinite fordøjelse?
Danish often uses the definite form for bodily functions, abstract concepts, and general categories when making broad statements about them. Even though English simply says "improves digestion," Danish naturally treats it as a known, general concept by using the -en suffix.