Breakdown of Stemningen i selve kasinoet er helt intens med spillerne tavse.
være
to be
i
in
med
with; by (bus, train) / of, to (the meaning or point of something)
stemningen
the atmosphere
Questions & Answers about Stemningen i selve kasinoet er helt intens med spillerne tavse.
How does the phrase med spillerne tavse work, and why isn't there a verb?
This is an absolute med-construction, which describes a state occurring at the same time as the main clause. In Danish, you form this by combining med + a noun + an adjective or participle, skipping the verb entirely (no need for a word like 'being'). It functions exactly like the English 'with the players silent'.
Why does tavse get an -e ending in this phrase?
Even though this is a verbless phrase, the adjective still has to agree with the noun it describes. Because spillerne (the players) is plural, the adjective tavs (silent) must take the plural -e ending to become tavse.
Why is it selve kasinoet instead of selv kasinoet?
Selve is an adjective meaning 'the [noun] itself' or 'the actual [noun]' and is placed directly before the noun. Here, it emphasizes the actual casino floor as opposed to the lobby or the hotel. Selv is a pronoun that usually comes after a noun or pronoun to mean 'myself/yourself/itself' (for example, kasinoet selv).
Could I say meget intens instead of helt intens?
Yes, but they carry slightly different nuances. Meget intens just means 'very intense.' Using helt (completely/totally) instead gives the atmosphere a more absolute, dramatic feeling that fits the tension of a casino well.