Jeg bruger en bog til at læse.

I use a book to read.

Breakdown of Jeg bruger en bog til at læse.

• jeg: I
• en: a
• læse: to read
• bogen: the book
• bruge: to use
• at: to

Questions & Answers about Jeg bruger en bog til at læse.

Why is the phrase 'til at læse' used here rather than 'for at læse'?

Til at læse is often used to indicate purpose in Danish when referring to a tool or something you use to accomplish an action. You might see for at læse in other contexts, but in this sentence structure it sounds more natural to say til at læse.

What is the role of 'en' before 'bog'?

En is the indefinite article for common-gender nouns in Danish. It corresponds roughly to a or an in English. Since bog (book) is a common-gender noun, we use en bog.

Could I say 'Jeg benytter en bog til at læse' or 'Jeg anvender en bog til at læse'?

Yes, benytter and anvender are synonyms for bruger and would still make sense grammatically. However, bruger is more common and neutral in everyday speech. Benytter and anvender can sound a bit more formal.

Why do we say 'en bog' instead of 'et bog'?

Danish nouns can be either common gender (en) or neuter gender (et). Bog is a common-gender noun, so it always takes en.

What does ‘til’ generally mean, and does it only indicate purpose?

Til can mean to, for, or until, depending on context. It can indicate direction or purpose, among other uses. In this sentence, it's primarily showing the purpose of using the book.