Jeg kigger på kortet, mens jeg går til skolen.

I look at the map while I walk to school.

Breakdown of Jeg kigger på kortet, mens jeg går til skolen.

• jeg: I
• kigge på: to look at
• skolen: the school
• til: to
• mens: while
• gå: to walk
• kortet: the map

Questions & Answers about Jeg kigger på kortet, mens jeg går til skolen.

What does the verb kigger mean in this sentence?

Kigger is the present tense of the Danish verb kigge, which means “to look at” in English. In this context, it indicates that the speaker is actively looking at the map, as opposed to just passively seeing it.

What is the role of the preposition på in på kortet?

The preposition på translates as “at” or “on.” In the phrase på kortet, it shows the relationship between the action (looking) and the object (the map), meaning “at/on the map.” This usage is similar to how prepositions work in English.

Why is the noun written as kortet instead of simply kort?

In Danish, the definite article is typically attached to the noun as a suffix. Kortet is the definite form of kort, meaning “the map.” This construction replaces the separate word “the” that we use in English.

How does the conjunction mens function in this sentence?

The word mens means “while” in English. It connects the two actions of the sentence, showing that the speaker is looking at the map at the same time as walking to school. This indicates that both actions occur simultaneously.

What does the phrase går til skolen mean and how is it structured?

The phrase går til skolen translates to “goes to school” or “is going to school.” Here, går is the present tense of gå (to walk or go), til means “to,” and skolen is the definite form of skole, meaning “the school.” This structure shows the destination of the action.

Why is the subject jeg repeated in both clauses of the sentence?

Repeating jeg (“I”) in both clauses clarifies that the same person is performing both actions. This repetition is common in Danish compound sentences and helps to avoid ambiguity, even when the subject is identical in both parts.

How does the structure of this Danish sentence compare to its English translation?

The Danish sentence Jeg kigger på kortet, mens jeg går til skolen directly translates to “I look at the map while I go to school.” Both sentences use the simple present to describe simultaneous actions. The main differences lie in the formation of definite nouns—Danish attaches the article to the noun (as in kortet and skolen)—and in the use of conjunctions and prepositions that, while similar in function, follow the grammatical rules of Danish.