Hunden bliver varm i solen.

the dog

Breakdown of Hunden bliver varm i solen.

• i: in
• solen: the sun
• blive: to become
• varm: warm

Questions & Answers about Hunden bliver varm i solen.

Why is "Hunden" used here and not "en hund"?

In Danish, "hunden" is the definite form of "hund" (dog). So "hunden" translates to "the dog" in English. You use the definite form when talking about a specific dog rather than any dog in general (which would be "en hund").

Why is "bliver" used in this sentence instead of "er"?

"Bliver" can mean "becomes," "is getting," or "ends up being." It indicates a change of state over time, so "Hunden bliver varm i solen" implies that the dog is gradually becoming warm. If you used "er" ("is"), it would simply state that the dog is warm right now without emphasizing any change or transition.

Why do we say "varm" instead of "varme"?

Danish adjectives must agree in certain ways with the nouns they describe. "Varm" is the basic or uninflected form of the adjective. You use "varme" in different contexts, such as after a definite article or in plural forms (e.g. "de varme hunde" – "the warm dogs"). Here, because it's describing "hunden" in a predicate after "bliver," we use the standard form "varm."

Why do we say "i solen" ("in the sun") instead of "under solen"?

In Danish, "i solen" (literally "in the sun") is the standard way to indicate being exposed to the sun’s rays or being in direct sunlight. Saying "under solen" ("under the sun") sounds more figurative or poetic, often meaning "under the sky" in a broad sense. So, "i solen" more directly describes the dog physically sitting or standing where the sunlight is strongest.

Can you explain the word order?

Danish typically follows a Subject–Verb–Object word order in simple sentences, so here it’s:
• Subject: Hunden
• Verb: bliver
• Complement/Adjective: varm
• Prepositional phrase: i solen

Since this sentence focuses on what happens to the dog (it becomes warm), "Hunden" naturally comes first as the subject.