Breakdown of Kan se at du er online og taster.
være
to be
du
you
og
and
se
to see / to look at
kunne
to be able to / can
at
that
online
online
taste
to type
Questions & Answers about Kan se at du er online og taster.
Why is there no subject like jeg at the beginning of this sentence?
This is a textbook example of Topic Drop (emnedrop) in informal Danish, such as in text messages. Because the subject is obvious from context (clearly jeg), it can be dropped entirely from the front of the main clause.
If I wanted to add an adverb like nu to the start of the sentence, could I still use Topic Drop?
No, that would be grammatically incorrect. Topic Drop only works if the dropped element would have been the very first word in the sentence. If you start with an adverb like nu, you have filled that front position, so you must include the subject and invert the verb: Nu kan jeg se at....
Is there a specific reason to use taster instead of skriver here?
While skriver (writing) is very common and perfectly understood, taster specifically means striking keys (from en tast, meaning a key or button). In chat applications, the live indicator that someone is currently typing a message is traditionally translated into Danish as taster, making it the most natural fit for this exact digital context.
Is the missing du before taster also an example of Topic Drop?
No, the missing du before taster is not Topic Drop. It is just a standard grammar rule where you do not need to repeat the subject when two verbs (er and taster) share the same subject and are connected by og. Topic Drop only applies to the very front field of a main clause.
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