Jeg vasker badeværelset.

I wash the bathroom.

Breakdown of Jeg vasker badeværelset.

• jeg: I
• vaske: to wash
• badeværelset: the bathroom

Questions & Answers about Jeg vasker badeværelset.

Why is badeværelset written as a single word rather than two separate words?

In Danish, the definite article is not a separate word; it is attached as a suffix to the noun. The noun badeværelse (meaning “bathroom”) becomes badeværelset in its definite form. This suffixal construction is common in Danish grammar.

What does the verb vasker mean, and how is it formed?

Vasker is the present tense form of the verb vaske, which means “to wash.” In Danish, verbs generally have little to no inflection for different subjects. Here, vasker is used with the subject jeg (“I”), so it translates directly as “I wash.”

What is the sentence structure of Jeg vasker badeværelset, and how does it compare to English?

The sentence follows the standard subject-verb-object (SVO) order: Jeg (I) is the subject, vasker (wash) is the verb, and badeværelset (the bathroom) is the object. This is similar to the English sentence “I wash the bathroom,” even though the definite article is integrated into the noun in Danish.

Why isn’t there a separate word for “the” before badeværelset?

Danish expresses definiteness by adding a suffix to the noun rather than using a separate definite article like “the.” In this sentence, the suffix -et attached to badeværelse indicates that it is definite, resulting in badeværelset.

How can I recognize the definite form of a noun in Danish from its ending?

Definite forms in Danish are usually marked by a specific ending. For many neuter nouns, including badeværelse, the suffix -et is added. Thus, when you see a noun ending in -et (or other similar endings for common gender nouns), it signifies that the noun is in its definite form (meaning “the …”).