Breakdown of Som hovedregel er det gratis at gå til lægen i Danmark.
være
to be
det
it (neuter)
i
in
lægen
the doctor
Questions & Answers about Som hovedregel er det gratis at gå til lægen i Danmark.
Why is the verb er placed before the subject det?
This is due to the V2 (verb-second) rule in Danish. Because the sentence starts with the adverbial phrase Som hovedregel, the verb er must be the second grammatical element, forcing the subject det to come immediately after it.
Why is there no article before hovedregel in the phrase Som hovedregel?
In Danish, the word som is frequently followed by a noun without an article when it refers to a role, function, or a fixed concept. Som hovedregel is a fixed expression used just like 'as a general rule' in English.
Since det is a neuter pronoun, shouldn't gratis have a -t at the end?
Normally, an adjective describing a neuter word gets a -t ending, but gratis is a notable exception. It is an uninflected adjective, meaning it never changes its form regardless of the gender or number of the word it describes.
Why do we use the definite form lægen instead of just saying en læge?
Danish uses the definite form here to refer to 'the doctor' as a general service or institution you visit, rather than a specific person. You will see the exact same pattern in phrases like at tage på hospitalet (to go to the hospital).