Begivenheden overrasker mig, når den sker om aftenen.

The event surprises me when it happens in the evening.

Breakdown of Begivenheden overrasker mig, når den sker om aftenen.

• når: when
• aftenen: the evening
• om: in
• den: it
• mig: me
• overraske: to surprise
• begivenheden: the event
• ske: to happen

Questions & Answers about Begivenheden overrasker mig, når den sker om aftenen.

Why is når used instead of da in this sentence?

In Danish, når is used for actions or situations that happen repeatedly or generally in the present or future. Da is used for a single event in the past. Since the sentence talks about something that surprises you whenever it happens (in the evening), når is correct.

Why do we use the present tense form overrasker rather than a past tense like overraskede?

Present tense in Danish can refer to actions that occur regularly or repeatedly over time. Here, the sentence suggests that the event surprises you each time it happens, so it’s described in the present tense.

How does den refer back to Begivenheden?

Begivenheden is a common gender noun in Danish, so it takes the pronoun den. It’s similar to saying “it” in English for something previously mentioned.

Why is the object pronoun mig used here?

In Danish, mig is the first-person singular object pronoun (equivalent to “me” in English). Since you are the one being surprised, mig is the correct form.

What role does om aftenen play in this sentence?

Om aftenen (literally “in the evening”) indicates the time frame in which the event occurs. It implies that this is a general or repeated time of occurrence, rather than a one-time event.