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Questions & Answers about Jeg vil svømme i havet igen.
Why does Danish use "vil" in this sentence, and does it mean "want to" or "will"?
Vil can mean both "want to" and "will" in Danish, depending on context. In this sentence, it most naturally reads as "I want to" do something. If you want to emphasize a future action (without necessarily desire), you might use a different wording, but generally vil is flexible and can convey either meaning.
Why is "havet" used instead of "hav"? What does the -et ending signify?
The -et ending marks the definite form in Danish (similar to adding "the" in English). So hav means "ocean/sea" and havet means "the ocean/sea." When you say "i havet," you’re referring specifically to "in the (particular) ocean/sea" rather than just any body of water.
Can "igen" be placed in a different position in the sentence, like after "svømme"?
Danish word order can allow some flexibility with igen, but "Jeg vil svømme i havet igen" is the standard, natural placement. You could say "Jeg vil igen svømme i havet," but it might sound a bit more formal or poetic. Both are grammatically correct; context and emphasis guide which version you choose.
Why is the verb "svømme" in its infinitive form instead of a conjugated form?
When you have a modal-like verb (such as vil, ingen, skal, kan, etc.), the following verb typically remains in the infinitive form in Danish. So you say "Jeg vil svømme" (I want to swim / I will swim) rather than "Jeg vil svømmer."
Is there a rule for why "Jeg vil svømme i havet igen" is still in present tense, even though it can refer to a future action?
In Danish, you often use the present tense (with a modal like vil) to describe future intentions. You don’t usually need a separate "will" form like in English. Instead, vil (present tense) indicates both the present intent and a forward-looking action.
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