Jeg kigger i spejlet, før jeg går ud i haven for at nyde græsset.

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Breakdown of Jeg kigger i spejlet, før jeg går ud i haven for at nyde græsset.

• i: in
• haven: the garden
• gå: to go
• at: to
• græsset: the grass
• kigge: to look
• spejlet: the mirror
• før: before
• ud: out
• nyde: to enjoy

Questions & Answers about Jeg kigger i spejlet, før jeg går ud i haven for at nyde græsset.

Why do we use i with spejlet instead of a different preposition?

In Danish, kigger i spejlet literally translates to “look in the mirror,” emphasizing looking at one’s reflection within the mirror. If you said kigger på spejlet, you’d be talking about looking at the surface of the mirror itself rather than at your reflection.

Why is før placed before jeg in this sentence?

Før means “before” and is a conjunction here. In Danish, it typically introduces a subordinate clause expressing something that happens earlier. The word order remains før jeg går ud i haven, with før at the start of the clause, followed by the subject (jeg) and then the verb (går).

What does i haven specifically mean, and why not something like til haven?

I haven means “in the garden,” indicating you’re physically inside or within the boundaries of the garden. Til haven would sound more like “to the garden,” focusing on movement toward it rather than being in it.

Why is for at used before nyde?

For at in Danish is commonly used to indicate purpose or intention—similar to “in order to” in English. So for at nyde græsset means “in order to enjoy the grass,” showing why you’re going out to the garden.

Why is græsset in the definite form?

In Danish, nouns can be turned into the definite form by adding -et (for neuter nouns) or -en (for common gender nouns). Græsset is the definite form of græs, meaning “the grass.” It signifies you’re talking about specific grass—likely the lawn in your own garden.