Jeg åbner døren for hunden.

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Breakdown of Jeg åbner døren for hunden.

• hunden: the dog
• åbne: to open
• for: for
• døren: the door

Questions & Answers about Jeg åbner døren for hunden.

Why is åbner used here instead of another form?

In Danish, åbner is the present tense form of the verb at åbne (to open). Danish verbs typically have a single present tense form, regardless of whether the subject is singular or plural, so jeg åbner, du åbner, and vi åbner all use åbner.

Why do I see døren and not dør?

Døren is the definite form of dør. In Danish, most nouns add an -en ending (or -et if they are neuter) to form the definite singular. Since dør is a common gender noun (also known as “n-words”), the definite form is døren.

What does for mean in this sentence?

In this context, for indicates doing something on behalf of or for the benefit of someone (or something). You’re not just opening the door; you’re specifically doing it for the dog’s benefit.

Why is the dog referred to as hunden?

Just like with døren, hunden is the definite form of hund (dog). Adding -en shows that we’re talking about a specific dog—“the dog.”

Is jeg always the word for I in Danish?

Yes, jeg is the standard way to say I in Danish, regardless of context. In conversation, you might sometimes hear a reduced form like ja or je, but in proper writing and clearly spoken Danish, jeg is used.