Lampen står på bordet.

on

Breakdown of Lampen står på bordet.

• bordet: the table
• lampen: the lamp

Questions & Answers about Lampen står på bordet.

Why does the sentence use står instead of er for “is”?

In Danish, it's common to use står (“stands”) when referring to the position of an object that is standing upright, like a lamp. Even though you could say er in a more general sense, står conveys that the lamp is “standing” on the table, which feels more descriptive in Danish.

Why is the definite form lampen used rather than an indefinite form like en lampe?

Danish uses lampen when the lamp has already been mentioned or is known from context. This definite form corresponds to saying the lamp in English, whereas en lampe would mean a lamp.

What does the preposition på indicate in this context?

The preposition på typically translates to on or on top of in English. Here, it shows that the lamp is placed on or resting on the surface of the table.

Is the word order always subject + verb + prepositional phrase in Danish?

Most main clauses in Danish follow this standard order: subject (lampen), then verb (står), then any additional elements like a prepositional phrase (på bordet). However, if an adverb or another phrase moves to the front, the verb will still remain near the front (V2 word order), so the exact positioning can change.

Could I replace står with ligger?

Generally, ligger (“lies”) is used for objects that are lying flat or in a horizontal position. Since a lamp is often considered to be standing upright, står is more appropriate. However, in casual speech, some people might mix them up without much confusion.

Why do we say på bordet and not i bordet?

I means in or inside, which would be incorrect for placing something on the surface. På is the correct preposition when something is on top of something else.