Den beskidte tallerken vaskes i køkkenet efter aftensmad.

The dirty plate is washed in the kitchen after dinner.

Breakdown of Den beskidte tallerken vaskes i køkkenet efter aftensmad.

• i: in
• vaske: to wash
• køkkenet: the kitchen
• tallerkenen: the plate
• efter: after
• beskidt: dirty
• aftensmaden: the dinner

Questions & Answers about Den beskidte tallerken vaskes i køkkenet efter aftensmad.

Why do we say Den beskidte tallerken instead of something like En beskidt tallerken?

In Danish, when you want to refer to a specific plate (and not just any plate), you use the definite article. Since tallerken is masculine/common gender, you use Den in front, and the adjective beskidte must appear in its definite form (ending in -e) to match. Together, Den beskidte tallerken means The dirty plate in English.

Why is the adjective written as beskidte and not beskidt?

Beskidt is the indefinite form of the adjective (e.g., en beskidt tallerken = “a dirty plate”), whereas beskidte is the definite form (e.g., den beskidte tallerken = “the dirty plate”). In Danish, when a noun is made definite, the adjective that describes it also takes the definite form, usually ending in -e.

What is the form vaskes, and why is it used here?

Vaskes is the present tense passive form of vaske (“to wash”). In Danish, adding -s to the verb can indicate the passive voice, meaning the focus is on the action done to the object (the plate) rather than who is doing it. So tallerkenen vaskes translates to “the plate is washed.”

Why is the word order “... vaskes i køkkenet efter aftensmad” and not “... vaskes efter aftensmad i køkkenet”?

Danish word order can be flexible, but typically expressions related to place (i køkkenet) come before general time-related phrases (efter aftensmad). Both versions might still be understood, but i køkkenet efter aftensmad follows a very natural flow in Danish: it first states where the washing happens, then when it happens.

Why is it efter aftensmad and not efter aftensmaden?

When you say efter aftensmad, you’re referring to dinner in general. It’s a common way in Danish to talk about a mealtime without emphasizing a specific, particular dinner. If you used efter aftensmaden, it would suggest a particular dinner or a specific instance (e.g., a special event). By contrast, efter aftensmad stays general.