Jeg elsker at se, hvordan sneen falder.

I love to see how the snow falls.

Breakdown of Jeg elsker at se, hvordan sneen falder.

• jeg: I
• se: to see
• sneen: the snow
• falde: to fall
• at: to
• elske: to love
• hvordan: how

Questions & Answers about Jeg elsker at se, hvordan sneen falder.

Why is there a comma after at se in this sentence?

In Danish, commas are used to separate the main clause from a subordinate clause. Here, the comma after at se clearly marks the beginning of the subordinate clause hvordan sneen falder, which adds extra detail about the manner in which the snow falls.

What is the function of the infinitive phrase at se following elsker?

The phrase at se means to see and acts as the object complement to elsker (love). This construction, where a verb expressing emotion or preference is followed by an infinitive phrase, is common in Danish—much like in English, as in I love to see….

How is the subordinate clause hvordan sneen falder constructed and what role does hvordan play?

The clause hvordan sneen falder is a subordinate clause that describes the manner in which the snow falls. The word hvordan is an interrogative adverb meaning how and introduces the clause. Within this clause, sneen (the snow) serves as the subject and falder (falls) is the verb. Notice that in subordinate clauses in Danish, the verb often comes towards the end, which is a distinct feature compared to the main clause.

What does the verb elsker mean, and how is it used in this sentence?

Elsker is the present tense form of the verb at elske, which means to love. In the sentence, Jeg elsker translates directly to I love. Danish verbs like elsker typically do not change form according to the subject, making it straightforward once you learn the basic forms.

How does the word order in the subordinate clause differ from that in the main clause?

In the main clause Jeg elsker at se, Danish follows a V2 (verb-second) word order where the verb appears early. In contrast, the subordinate clause hvordan sneen falder does not follow the V2 rule; instead, it places the verb at the end of the clause. This shift in word order helps distinguish the subordinate part from the main clause and is a common characteristic of Danish sentence structure.