Questions & Answers about Hvordan kan du holde ham ud?
Why is the phrase holde ud separated by the word ham?
holde ud is a separable verb. In Danish, when the object is a short pronoun like ham (him), it must be placed between the verb (holde) and the short word or particle (ud) instead of at the very end.
How does holde ud translate to 'stand'?
Literally, holde ud means 'hold out'. In Danish, it is a common expression used to mean 'tolerate', 'endure', or 'stand' someone or something annoying.
Why does kan come before du here?
This is the V2 (verb-second) rule in action. Because the question word Hvordan (how) takes the first position in the sentence, the verb kan must take the second position, pushing the subject du to the third spot.
Could I use holde ud to say 'stand' in a physical sense?
No, holde ud is only used for tolerating or enduring something. To talk about physically standing somewhere, you use the verb stå, like in Jeg står udenfor (I stand outside).