Umiddelbart synes jeg, at det er et svært valg, men jeg beundrer din beslutsomhed.

At first glance, I think it is a difficult choice, but I admire your determination.

Breakdown of Umiddelbart synes jeg, at det er et svært valg, men jeg beundrer din beslutsomhed.

• jeg: I
• et: a
• være: to be
• men: but
• det: it
• svær: difficult
• din: your
• synes: to think
• at: that
• umiddelbart: at first glance
• valget: the choice
• beundre: to admire
• beslutsomheden: the determination

Questions & Answers about Umiddelbart synes jeg, at det er et svært valg, men jeg beundrer din beslutsomhed.

What does umiddelbart mean in this sentence, and why is it placed at the beginning?

Umiddelbart roughly translates to “immediately” or “at first glance.” Its placement at the beginning sets the tone by indicating that the speaker’s opinion is based on an initial impression rather than a deep, considered analysis.

Why does the sentence use the structure "umiddelbart synes jeg" instead of a more straightforward word order like “jeg synes”?

In Danish main clauses, the finite verb must appear in the second position. When an adverbial element such as umiddelbart starts the sentence, the verb synes follows immediately, pushing the subject jeg to the position after the verb. This inversion is a standard feature of Danish sentence structure.

What is the role of at in the clause "at det er et svært valg"?

The word at serves as a complementizer, similar to the English word “that.” It introduces the subordinate clause explaining what the speaker thinks. In Danish, using at in this construction is obligatory to connect the opinion expressed by synes with the clause that follows.

Why is there a comma before men in this sentence?

The comma before men is used to separate two independent clauses. Danish punctuation rules, much like those in English, require a comma before coordinating conjunctions such as men (meaning “but”) when they link distinct thoughts—in this case, contrasting a difficult decision with an expression of admiration.

What does beslutsomhed mean, and how is it formed?

Beslutsomhed means “determination.” It is formed by taking the adjective beslutsom (meaning “determined”) and adding the noun-forming suffix -hed. This is a common pattern in Danish for turning adjectives into abstract nouns.

How does the overall sentence structure help convey contrasting ideas?

The sentence juxtaposes two ideas: the difficulty of making a decision and the admiration for someone’s determination. The first part, introduced with an adverb and a subordinate clause, explains the speaker’s initial impression that the choice is difficult. The coordinating conjunction men then introduces a contrasting clause, highlighting the positive quality of determination. This structure effectively emphasizes both the challenge of the decision and the respectful acknowledgment of resolve.