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Questions & Answers about Alle gæster sidder i stuen.
Why does the sentence use alle gæster and not alle gæsterne?
In Danish, alle typically pairs with an indefinite noun when you’re talking about the group in a general sense, so you get alle gæster (all guests). If you say alle gæsterne, you’re referring more specifically to a known or previously mentioned group of guests. Both forms are valid but carry slightly different nuances.
Is sidder the correct verb form for "are sitting"?
Yes. In Danish, sidder literally means "to sit" in the present tense, which directly translates to "is/are sitting" in English. It indicates a continuous action of sitting right now.
Why is it i stuen instead of i stue?
When referring to "the living room," Danish uses the definite form stuen. The -en ending is the definite article in Danish, so you say i stuen for "in the living room." If you said i stue, you would be missing the definite article and it wouldn’t sound correct in this context.
Could we use på instead of i?
Generally, i means "in" and is used for rooms or enclosed spaces. På can also mean "on" or "at," but in this case, Danish typically uses i for being "in" a room. So i stuen is the natural choice.
How would the word order change if we put i stuen at the start of the sentence?
You could say I stuen sidder alle gæster, which would emphasize the location. However, the original order (Alle gæster sidder i stuen) is more straightforward. Both are grammatically correct in Danish, but the focus shifts slightly.
Is it possible to say Alle sammen sidder i stuen?
Yes, alle sammen can be used, but it acts more like "everyone together." Alle gæster is more standard for "all (the) guests," while alle sammen is a casual expression emphasizing the collective group. Both are acceptable, but alle gæster is more precise for referring specifically to guests.