Learn Hardcore Danish: Vinduet lukkes om aftenen, når det bliver koldt. - The window is closed in the evening when it becomes cold.

In Danish, using lukkes is the passive form of the verb at lukke (“to close”). It indicates that “the window is being closed” rather than assigning anyone the direct subject who is doing the closing. If the sentence were “Vinduet lukker om aftenen,” it would suggest that the window closes itself, which isn’t the intended meaning.

What does om aftenen mean, and how does it differ from om aften or i aften?

Om aftenen is used in Danish to describe something that generally or regularly happens in the evening. If you said om aften, that would be incorrect because “aften” needs the definite article when used with “om.” Meanwhile, i aften means “this evening,” referring to a specific night.

Why is det used instead of den when talking about becoming cold?

In Danish, the pronoun det is often used to refer to general conditions or situations, including the weather. Even though koldt is a neuter form, it agrees with det to express the idea that “it” is becoming cold outside or in the environment. If you used den, you’d refer to a common-gender noun specifically, which isn’t the case here.

Is the sentence structure the same if I switch the parts around, like: Når det bliver koldt, lukkes vinduet om aftenen?

Yes, the overall meaning remains the same. Danish word order allows for this rearrangement without changing who does what or when. However, putting Når det bliver koldt first might give slightly more emphasis to the condition of getting cold rather than the action of closing the window.