Questions & Answers about Hun hjælper den stakkels hund.
What does hjælper tell me about the verb tense?
Hjælper is the present tense of hjælpe (to help).
So:
- at hjælpe = to help
- hjælper = help / helps
In this sentence, Hun hjælper den stakkels hund, it means she helps the poor dog.
A useful point for English speakers: Danish verbs do not change for person the way English does. So the same present-tense form is used with I, you, he, she, we, they:
- jeg hjælper
- du hjælper
- hun hjælper
- vi hjælper
Why is den used here?
Den here is the definite article meaning the for a common-gender noun.
So:
- en hund = a dog
- den ... hund = the ... dog
Because the noun is being described by an adjective-like word (stakkels), Danish uses a separate word for the before the description:
- den stakkels hund = the poor dog
Why is it den and not det?