Legetøjet er farverigt og ligger spredt på gulvet i stuen.

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Breakdown of Legetøjet er farverigt og ligger spredt på gulvet i stuen.

• i: in
• være: to be
• på: on
• gulvet: the floor
• stuen: the living room
• farverigt: colorful
• ligge: to lie
• legetøjet: the toy
• spredt: scattered

Questions & Answers about Legetøjet er farverigt og ligger spredt på gulvet i stuen.

Why is the noun Legetøjet in the definite form rather than the indefinite form?

In Danish, adding -et at the end (or -en for some words) makes the noun definite. Legetøjet means "the toy," whereas legetøj would be simply "toy." The sentence uses the definite form to indicate a specific toy we're talking about.

What is the function of the verb er in this sentence?

In Danish, er is the present tense form of the verb "to be." Here, it connects legetøjet (the toy) with the adjective farverigt (colorful), describing the toy’s characteristic.

How does ligger differ from er in this context?

In Danish, ligger (from the verb ligge) literally means "lies" or "is located." While er is simply "is," ligger adds the notion that the toys are positioned on a surface—lying scattered on the floor—rather than just existing there in a general sense.

Why do we use på gulvet i stuen instead of another preposition?

På typically translates to "on" in English. By saying på gulvet, you emphasize that the toys are situated on the surface of the floor. I stuen indicates the location of that floor, namely "in the living room." Together, these phrases describe both the surface (the floor) and the room in which the toys are lying scattered.