Storbyen er altid travl med mange biler og mennesker.

The metropolis is always busy with many cars and people.

Breakdown of Storbyen er altid travl med mange biler og mennesker.

• og: and
• være: to be
• med: with
• mange: many
• altid: always
• storbyen: the metropolis
• travl: busy
• bilen: the car
• mennesket: the person

Questions & Answers about Storbyen er altid travl med mange biler og mennesker.

What does storbyen mean, and why is it written as one word in Danish?

Storbyen is a compound word that combines stor (big) and by (city). In Danish, it’s common to form compound nouns by merging the adjective and noun. In this case, the definite article is integrated into the compound, so storbyen effectively means “the big city.”

Why does the adjective travl remain unchanged in this sentence?

In Danish, adjectives used as predicates after the linking verb (in this sentence, er meaning “is”) stay in their base form. When an adjective is used before a noun (attributively), it often gets an inflected ending (e.g., den travle by). Since travl here is used predicatively, no inflection is needed.

What role does the adverb altid play in the sentence?

Altid means “always” and serves as an adverb modifying the verb er. Its placement indicates that the state of being busy is constant or habitual, emphasizing that the city is always busy.

What is the function of the phrase med mange biler og mennesker?

The phrase med mange biler og mennesker is an adverbial phrase that explains what the city is busy with. Med translates to “with,” and the following words specify that the busyness involves many cars and people, adding extra context to the idea of a bustling city.

Could the sentence be expressed using a different structure, such as den store by? What nuance does that change?

Yes, the noun phrase “the big city” can also be expressed as den store by. While both storbyen and den store by convey the same general meaning, storbyen as a compound noun is more idiomatic and commonly used in everyday Danish, often implying a well-known or prominent city. In contrast, den store by is more of a descriptive phrase and might be used when emphasizing the qualities of a big city.