Kontoret er lyst, når solen skinner.

to be

Breakdown of Kontoret er lyst, når solen skinner.

• solen: the sun
• skinne: to shine
• når: when
• kontoret: the office

Questions & Answers about Kontoret er lyst, når solen skinner.

What does kontoret mean, and how is the definiteness indicated in this word?

Kontoret translates to "the office" in English. It is formed by taking the base noun kontor (meaning "office") and adding the definite suffix -et, which is a common way in Danish to indicate the definite form. This means that instead of using a separate word for “the,” Danish attaches it directly to the noun.

How should I understand the adjective lyst in this sentence? Does it mean "bright" or "light" in terms of weight?

In this context, lyst means "bright", referring to a well-lit or illuminated environment. It describes the quality of the office when sunlight is present. Although the English word "light" can also refer to weight, here lyst strictly denotes brightness.

What is the role of the subordinate clause når solen skinner in this sentence?

The clause når solen skinner means "when the sun shines" and serves as a time (or conditional) subordinate clause. It specifies the condition under which the office becomes bright, providing essential temporal context to the main clause Kontoret er lyst.

Why is there a comma before når solen skinner? Is this punctuation typical in Danish?

Yes, the comma is used in Danish to separate the main clause from a subordinate clause, much like in many European languages. In this sentence, the comma before når solen skinner clearly demarcates the time-dependent subordinate clause from the main statement, thereby aiding readability and clarifying the sentence structure.

What is the word order in the subordinate clause når solen skinner, and how does it compare to English?

In the subordinate clause når solen skinner, the typical word order is maintained: the conjunction når ("when") is followed by the subject solen ("the sun") and then the verb skinner ("shines"). This structure is very similar to English subordinate clauses (e.g., "when the sun shines"), making it easier for learners to recognize and adapt.