Word
Hvis virussen skulle inficere systemet, slukker vi for internettet.
Meaning
If the virus should infect the system, we turn off the internet.
Part of speech
sentence
Pronunciation
Course
Breakdown of Hvis virussen skulle inficere systemet, slukker vi for internettet.
vi
we
skulle
to have to / must / to be going to
hvis
if
internettet
the internet
Questions & Answers about Hvis virussen skulle inficere systemet, slukker vi for internettet.
Why is skulle used here instead of just saying Hvis virussen inficerer systemet?
Using skulle in a hvis-clause expresses a low probability, similar to saying 'If the virus were to...' or 'If the virus should...' in English. It shows that the speaker thinks the infection is unlikely to actually happen.
Why do we say slukker for internettet instead of just slukker internettet?
In Danish, the verb at slukke (to turn off) is usually paired with the preposition for when referring to stopping a supply, signal, or connection (like water, electricity, or the internet). While you can sometimes drop it, adding for sounds much more natural.
Is virus an en word or an et word? This sentence uses virussen.
It can actually be both! In everyday Danish, it is usually common gender (en virus, definite virussen), especially when talking about computer viruses or a common illness. In strict medical or scientific contexts, it is often treated as neuter (et virus, definite virusset).
Why does the main clause use the inverted word order slukker vi?
This is the classic Danish V2 (verb-second) rule in action. The entire hvis-clause takes up the first position in the sentence. To keep the main verb in the second position, slukker must come right after the comma, swapping places with the subject vi.