Jeg hænger et billede ved siden af spejlet.

I hang a picture next to the mirror.

Breakdown of Jeg hænger et billede ved siden af spejlet.

• jeg: I
• et: a
• ved siden af: next to
• billedet: the picture
• spejlet: the mirror
• hænge: to hang

Questions & Answers about Jeg hænger et billede ved siden af spejlet.

Why do we say et billede instead of en billede?

In Danish, billede is a neuter noun, so it uses et as its indefinite article. If a noun is neuter, you will see et (indefinite) and -et (definite) rather than en and -en. Therefore, the definite form becomes billedet.

Why does spejlet end with -et instead of -en?

Spejl is also a neuter noun in Danish, so its definite singular form is spejlet rather than spejlen. The rule is that neuter nouns add -et to form the definite singular.

What is the function of ved siden af in this sentence?

Ved siden af is a prepositional phrase meaning next to or beside. It literally combines ved (“by” or “at”), siden (“side”), and af (“of”). Together, they express the idea of placing something in a position adjacent to something else (in this case, next to the mirror).

Can I say Jeg hænger et billede op ved siden af spejlet?

Yes, you can. The word op emphasizes the action of hanging something up. Using hænger without op is perfectly correct and common, but hænger op can add a slight nuance of the action of putting it on a wall or surface. Both forms are acceptable in everyday speech.