Jeg trækker gardinet for at holde solen ude.

I draw the curtain to keep the sun out.

Breakdown of Jeg trækker gardinet for at holde solen ude.

• jeg: I
• solen: the sun
• at: to
• holde: to keep
• gardinet: the curtain
• trække: to draw
• ude: out

Questions & Answers about Jeg trækker gardinet for at holde solen ude.

Why do we use for at in this sentence?

In Danish, for at is a common way to express the purpose of an action. It’s equivalent to saying “in order to” or simply “to” in English. So, Jeg trækker gardinet for at holde solen ude conveys that pulling the curtain is done with the specific goal of keeping the sun out.

Is there a difference between trækker and other verbs like lukker in this context?

Yes. Trækker focuses on the pulling action, implying you physically move the curtain. Lukker (meaning “to close”) can sometimes be used with curtains, but it’s more general. Saying jeg lukker gardinet might sound slightly less natural in everyday conversation compared to jeg trækker gardinet for, which vividly describes pulling the curtain across.

Why is gardinet in the definite form?

In Danish, when you talk about a specific object, you use the definite form. Since the speaker is referring to a particular curtain, gardinet is used instead of et gardin (the indefinite form). It’s the same idea as saying “the curtain” in English rather than just “a curtain.”

Could I say holde solen væk instead of holde solen ude?

Yes, holde solen væk is grammatically correct and means “keep the sun away.” However, holde solen ude more strongly suggests preventing the sun from entering the room. Both forms work, but holde solen ude often sounds more precise in everyday usage for physical exclusion.

Is the word order important in for at holde solen ude?

Absolutely. In Danish, for at typically goes directly before the infinitive verb phrase (e.g., holde solen ude). If you change the order too much, it can sound unnatural or alter the meaning. Keeping for at next to holde helps listeners understand immediately that we’re expressing purpose.