Måneskinnet lyser rummet op.

The moonlight lights up the room.

Breakdown of Måneskinnet lyser rummet op.

• lyse op: to light up
• rummet: the room
• måneskinnet: the moonlight

Questions & Answers about Måneskinnet lyser rummet op.

Why is the definite form måneskinnet used here instead of the indefinite form måneskin?

In Danish, we often use the definite form when referring to something specific or something assumed to be known in context. Måneskinnet implies the specific moonlight illuminating the scene, rather than just any moonlight in general.

What role does lyser play in the sentence compared to using skinner?

Lyser (from the verb at lyse) means to give off light or illuminate, whereas skinner (from at skinne) is more about shining or gleaming on its own. Saying lyser emphasizes that the moonlight is actively lighting something, while skinner focuses on the light shining by itself.

Why do we say lyser rummet op instead of lyser op rummet?

In Danish, the small particle op usually comes after the direct object. So the natural word order is lyser rummet op. Placing op before rummet isn’t typical in standard Danish and would sound awkward or overly poetic.

Is op here part of a phrasal verb or a separate word?

It’s common to think of lyser op as a phrasal verb (a verb + particle) where op modifies lyser to mean light up or brighten. Danish has many verbs that pair with small particles (like op, ned, etc.) to alter the meaning of the base verb.

What is the function of rummet in this sentence?

Rummet is the direct object (the thing that receives the action). The moonlight is lighting the room up, so rummet is the object being illuminated.