Breakdown of Motion er sundt for kroppen og sindet.
og
and
være
to be
for
for
motionen
the exercise
sund
healthy
kroppen
the body
sindet
the mind
Questions & Answers about Motion er sundt for kroppen og sindet.
Why do we say Motion instead of Motionen?
In Danish, when you talk about an activity or concept in a general sense (like “exercise” in English), you typically use the indefinite form without the article. Saying Motionen would mean you are talking about a specific type of exercise that has already been mentioned or is otherwise known. Here, Motion is used in a general sense, so no article is needed.
Why is the adjective sundt (with a -t) used here?
In Danish, adjectives often agree with the gender and number of the noun. Motion is commonly a singular common-gender noun (so theoretically one might expect sund). However, in many general statements, especially with more abstract ideas like motion, Danish often uses the neuter form (the -t ending). It can also be a stylistic choice to emphasize a general fact, so Motion er sundt feels more like “Exercise is generally healthy.” It’s not uncommon to see this in similar expressions or idiomatic usage.
Why do we see kroppen and sindet instead of just krop and sind?
In Danish, the definite article can be used to speak about body parts or abstract concepts when referring to them in a more specific way—often similarly to “the body” and “the mind” in English. Kroppen means the body, and sindet means the mind, indicating we’re talking about these in a definite, general sense (everyone’s body and mind). Using them without the article (krop, sind) would be less specific.
What is the function of for in this sentence?
For in Danish can carry meanings similar to “for” or “to” in English. In this context, for expresses a benefit or effect: “Exercise is healthy for the body and mind.” It shows what specifically benefits from the exercise—namely the body and the mind.
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