Sopranen har at ramme tonen uden at sløse.
The soprano absolutely must hit the note without slacking.
Breakdown of Sopranen har at ramme tonen uden at sløse.
have
to have
at
to
uden
without
ramme
to hit, to strike
Questions & Answers about Sopranen har at ramme tonen uden at sløse.
How does har at ramme differ from just saying skal ramme?
While skal simply means "must" or "has to", using the construction har at plus an infinitive adds a strong, almost commanding emphasis. It translates closer to "had better" or "absolutely must" and implies strict expectations or consequences if she fails.
What exactly does the verb sløse mean here?
At sløse means to slack off, be careless, or do a sloppy job. In this context, uden at sløse emphasizes that the soprano must hit the note with absolute precision and focus, without being lazy about her vocal technique.
Why do we need the word at in uden at sløse?
In Danish, when a preposition like uden (without) is followed directly by a verb, that verb must be in the infinitive form and requires the infinitive marker at. This is how Danish forms the equivalent of the English "-ing" form after prepositions, translating structurally to "without to slack".
Can ramme tonen be used metaphorically in Danish, just like "hit the right note" in English?
Yes, it works exactly the same way! You can use at ramme tonen literally for music, as in this sentence, or metaphorically to mean striking the right mood or saying exactly the appropriate thing for a given social situation.