Learn Danish: En lille ledetråd kan gå hen og løse hele mysteriet. - A small clue can unexpectedly solve the whole mystery.

The phrase gå hen og is a pseudo-coordination used to show that an action happens unexpectedly, by chance, or as an eventual outcome. Even though it literally translates to "go over and", no physical movement is involved here. It just adds a sense of "might just happen to" before the main verb løse (solve).

Why are both gå and løse in the infinitive form here?

Usually, the verbs in a pseudo-coordination share the same tense, such as the past tense in gik hen og løste. However, because this sentence uses the modal verb kan (can), both gå and the main verb løse are forced into their infinitive forms. The word og still connects them to form a single conceptual action.

What is the literal meaning of the word ledetråd?

It literally translates to "guiding thread" (lede + tråd). This traces back to the Greek myth of Theseus using a ball of thread to find his way out of the Minotaur's labyrinth. Today, it is simply the standard Danish word for a clue or an investigative lead.

Why is it hele mysteriet instead of det hele mysterium?

The adjective hel (whole) has a special grammar rule in Danish. When saying "the whole [noun]", you do not use the freestanding definite article (den or det). Instead, you put the noun in its standard definite form with the suffix attached, resulting in hele mysteriet.