Vandet i haven lugter dejligt.

The water in the garden smells lovely.

Breakdown of Vandet i haven lugter dejligt.

• i: in
• haven: the garden
• vandet: the water
• lugte: to smell
• dejligt: lovely

Questions & Answers about Vandet i haven lugter dejligt.

Why does the sentence use "Vandet" rather than "Vand"?

In Danish, the definite article is attached to the end of the noun, so "Vandt" would be incorrect. "Vandet" is simply "Vand" (water) in the definite form: the water.

Why is it "i haven" instead of something else like "på haven"?

Danish uses different prepositions to express where something is located. "i haven" means "in the garden" (literally “inside” or “within”), while "på haven" is not used. Generally, "i" is for enclosed/defined spaces, and "på" is for more open or public areas (like "på gaden" – “on the street”).

What is the difference between "lugter" and other Danish verbs for smell, like "dufter"?

In Danish, "lugter" can mean "smells" in either a neutral or negative sense, while "dufter" often implies a pleasant smell. However, "lugter dejligt" shows it's a good smell here. It’s context-dependent.

Why is "dejligt" spelled with a -t at the end? Is it an adverb?

"Dejligt" is the neuter singular form of the adjective "dejlig" (nice/pleasant) agreeing with the noun "Vandet". Danish adjectives sometimes take a -t ending in neuter forms or adverbial uses. Here, it's describing how the water smells, so we use the neuter form.

Can we change the word order, for example: "I haven lugter vandet dejligt"?

While word order can be flexible in Danish, placing "i haven" at the start is possible, but context and emphasis change. The most natural, neutral way is still "Vandet i haven lugter dejligt.", focusing first on the subject (Vandet).