En lampe lyser i rummet.

in

Breakdown of En lampe lyser i rummet.

• en: a
• lampen: the lamp
• lyse: to shine
• rummet: the room

Questions & Answers about En lampe lyser i rummet.

Why is the sentence written with en lampe at the beginning instead of lampen?

Danish uses the indefinite article en (or et, depending on the noun’s gender) the same way English uses a or an: to introduce something for the first time or describe it in a non-specific way. Using lampen would be the definite form (like the lamp in English).

Why is it lyser and not another verb like skinner or lyser op?

In Danish, lyser is commonly used to say that something (usually a source of light) is shining or giving off light. Skinner also means “shines” but often suggests a stronger, more direct light source (like the sun). Lyser op can mean “lights up” a specific area or object. Here, using lyser sounds natural when describing that the lamp is emitting light in the room in a general sense.

Why do we say i rummet and not på rummet?

I is used to talk about being inside an enclosed space (like a room). På is more often used for surfaces, locations, or events (for example, på bordet “on the table,” or på arbejde “at work”). So i is the correct preposition when indicating that something is happening within the room.

What is the role of rummet with -et at the end?

In Danish, rummet is the definite singular form of rum (room). The suffix -et is how Danish indicates the definite article for most neuter words. So rummet literally translates to “the room.”

Is there a reason why the sentence order is En lampe lyser i rummet instead of I rummet lyser en lampe?

Danish sentence structure often begins with the subject (here, en lampe) followed by the verb (here, lyser). That’s the most neutral word order. However, I rummet lyser en lampe is also correct but places emphasis on the location first, which can shift focus or style. Both are acceptable, but En lampe lyser i rummet is the more standard way.