Breakdown of Vi skal patruljere i området hver anden time.
vi
we
i
in
skulle
to have to / must / to be going to
timen
the hour
området
the area
hver anden
every other
patruljere
to patrol
Questions & Answers about Vi skal patruljere i området hver anden time.
Why does hver anden pair with the singular time instead of the plural timer?
Just like in English ('every second hour'), the phrase hver anden requires a singular noun in Danish. Even though you are talking about multiple hours over time, the grammatical focus is on each individual alternating interval. Because en time is a common gender noun, it takes the common gender forms hver and anden.
How would the phrase change if we were patrolling every other day (24-hour period) instead of every other hour?
The word for a 24-hour day is et døgn, which is a neuter noun. Therefore, the adjectives must change to match the neuter gender, resulting in hvert andet døgn. Just like with common gender nouns, the noun itself remains in its singular form.
Why is the preposition i used with området here instead of på?
We use i because it refers to being physically inside a geographical space or zone. If you used på området, it would typically mean 'in the field' in a metaphorical sense, such as being an expert in a specific subject area or domain.
Does skal always translate to 'must', or could it just mean 'are going to' in this context?
It can mean both. Danish frequently uses skal to express the future tense when there is a plan or instruction. In this context of patrolling, it carries a strong sense of obligation ('must' or 'have to'), but it simultaneously tells us that this is a scheduled future action.
Learn Vi skal patruljere i området hver anden time 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