Jeg vasker mig, når jeg kommer hjem fra arbejde.

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Breakdown of Jeg vasker mig, når jeg kommer hjem fra arbejde.

• når: when
• fra: from
• vaske: to wash
• mig: myself
• komme: to come
• hjemmet: the home
• arbejdet: the work

Questions & Answers about Jeg vasker mig, når jeg kommer hjem fra arbejde.

Why is mig used instead of jeg here?

mig is the reflexive pronoun, referring back to jeg (the subject). Danish uses reflexive pronouns this way when the subject and object are the same person.

What does vasker mean literally, and why does it need mig after it?

vasker literally means wash. Because you’re washing yourself, Danish requires the reflexive pronoun mig to show that the action is directed at the same person who is doing it.

Do I always need to use mig after vasker when I’m talking about washing myself?

Yes, if you’re talking about washing yourself in Danish, you generally say jeg vasker mig. Otherwise, vasker without the reflexive just means washing something else or someone else.

What is the role of når in this sentence?

Here, når means when in a present or habitual sense. It introduces a time clause that tells us when the action (washing myself) happens—namely, when I come home from work.

Why do we use the present tense kommer if it’s a future event (coming home after work)?

Danish often uses the present tense to refer to near future or habitual actions. In this sentence, kommer describes a routine or repeated event, even though it’s technically happening in the future each day.