Breakdown of Lampen virker ikke. Vi skal have en ny pære.
en
a / an (common)
vi
we
have
to have
ikke
not
lampen
the lamp
ny
new
skulle
to have to / must / to be going to
virke
to seem; to work (of a machine)
pæren
the light bulb
Questions & Answers about Lampen virker ikke. Vi skal have en ny pære.
Why use virker instead of arbejder for "works"?
In Danish, virker is used when a machine, system, or object functions correctly. You only use arbejder when a person or animal is performing actual labor, like working at a job.
The translation says "We need," but the Danish says skal have. Can I say har brug for instead?
You could absolutely say vi har brug for en ny pære, but skal have (literally "must have") is a very common and natural way to express that you need to acquire or get something in everyday Danish. It is similar to saying "we have to get" in English.
Doesn't pære mean "pear"?
Yes, en pære is the fruit! Danish uses the exact same word for a lightbulb because of its shape. You might sometimes see the more specific word glødepære (literally "glow-pear"), but in context with a lamp, just pære is perfectly clear.
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