Spisestuen er rolig, når solen skinner ind gennem vinduet.

to be

Breakdown of Spisestuen er rolig, når solen skinner ind gennem vinduet.

• solen: the sun
• skinne: to shine
• når: when
• vinduet: the window
• gennem: through
• rolig: calm
• spisestuen: the dining room

Questions & Answers about Spisestuen er rolig, når solen skinner ind gennem vinduet.

Why does the sentence use spisestuen instead of spisestue?

In Danish, the definite article goes at the end of the noun. Spisestuen is "the dining room," while en spisestue is "a dining room." Because this sentence refers to a specific dining room, we use the definite form.

Is rolig translated best as "calm," or could it also mean "quiet"?

Rolig can mean "calm," "quiet," or "peaceful" depending on context. In this sentence, it’s describing a serene atmosphere, so both "calm" and "quiet" can work as translations.

Why do we use når and not da?

Når is used for a general or repeated condition or action in Danish. Da is more often used for a single event in the past. Here, it’s about whenever the sun shines through, so når is correct.

Why is ind followed by gennem vinduet?

Ind on its own means "in" or "into," but ind gennem vinduet clarifies that the sunlight is specifically shining in through the window. It emphasizes how the light is entering the room.

Can I just say solen skinner ind without gennem?

You could, but gennem ("through") adds clarity: it shows that the sunlight is passing through something. Omitting gennem leaves out that detail, so it wouldn’t convey the same image of the sun coming in through the window.