Rummet er lille men varmt.

to be

Breakdown of Rummet er lille men varmt.

• men: but
• varm: warm
• rummet: the room
• lille: small

Questions & Answers about Rummet er lille men varmt.

Why is the definite form rummet used here instead of the indefinite form et rum?

In Danish, when you want to say the room, you attach the definite article to the end of the noun, turning rum into rummet. If you used et rum, you would be talking about a room rather than the room.

Why do we say er instead of any other verb?

The word er is the present tense of the verb at være (to be). In this sentence, it simply states that the room is small but warm.

Why is the adjective lille used, but then varmt ends with a t?

The adjective lille is a special (irregular) form for small when used predicatively for both en- and et-words in the singular. However, varmt follows the usual rule for an et-word: adding t at the end of the adjective when describing an et-word in a predicative position.

Could you explain the function of men in this sentence?

Men means but in Danish. It contrasts two qualities of the room: it’s small, but on the other hand, it’s also warm.

Is the word order always subject + verb + adjective in Danish when describing something?

Yes, a basic statement in Danish often follows the pattern subject + verb + adjective. Here, Rummet (subject) er (verb) lille men varmt (adjectives). For more complex sentences, word order can change, but for simple descriptions, this pattern is standard.