Tallerkenerne er rene, og jeg har dækket et farverigt måltid til hele familien.

The plates are clean, and I have set a colorful meal for the whole family.

Breakdown of Tallerkenerne er rene, og jeg har dækket et farverigt måltid til hele familien.

• jeg: I
• og: and
• et: a
• være: to be
• ren: clean
• have: to have
• farverig: colorful
• måltidet: the meal
• tallerkenen: the plate
• til: for
• hele: the whole
• familien: the family

Questions & Answers about Tallerkenerne er rene, og jeg har dækket et farverigt måltid til hele familien.

Why do we say “Tallerkenerne” instead of just “Tallerkener”?

“Tallerkenerne” is the definite plural form. In Danish, “-ne” is often added to make a noun both plural and definite (e.g., tallerkener → tallerkenerne). “Tallerkener” on its own is just the indefinite plural (plates), while “Tallerkenerne” means the plates.

Why is “rene” used here? Shouldn’t “ren” by itself mean “clean”?

In Danish, adjectives must agree in number (and sometimes gender) with the noun they describe. Because tallerkenerne is plural, you add -e to the adjective, so “ren” becomes rene.

Is the phrase “har dækket et farverigt måltid” common, or is it usually “dække bord”?

Normally, you see “dække bord” (to set the table). However, saying “har dækket et måltid” can emphasize that you have prepared and arranged the meal itself, not just set the table. Both are understandable in Danish, but “dække bord” is more commonly heard.

Why is “farverigt” used and not “farverig”?

“Måltid” is a neuter word (et måltid), so adjectives take the -t ending in the indefinite singular neutral form: farverigt. If it had been a common gender noun like “en ret,” you would see farverig instead.

What is the function of “til hele familien” in this sentence?

Using “til” indicates “for” in the sense of giving or providing something to someone. “Til hele familien” means that the meal is intended for the entire family or is set up so everyone in the family can eat it.