Jeg øver udtalen, mens jeg taler med min ven.

I practice the pronunciation while I speak with my friend.

Breakdown of Jeg øver udtalen, mens jeg taler med min ven.

• jeg: I
• min: my
• med: with
• vennen: the friend
• øve: to practice
• mens: while
• udtalen: the pronunciation
• tale: to speak

Questions & Answers about Jeg øver udtalen, mens jeg taler med min ven.

What does øve mean, and why is it used in this sentence?

Øve means to practice. In the sentence Jeg øver udtalen, mens jeg taler med min ven, it indicates that the speaker is practicing something—specifically, the pronunciation (udtalen).

What is the role of mens in the sentence?

Mens functions as a conjunction meaning while. It connects the two clauses, showing that both actions—the practicing of pronunciation and the conversation with a friend—are occurring simultaneously.

Why is min used before ven, and how does Danish handle possessive adjectives?

In Danish, the form of the possessive adjective depends on the gender of the noun. Ven is a common gender noun, so min (meaning my) is used. If the noun were neuter, the form mit would be required instead.

How are the verbs øver and taler conjugated in terms of tense?

Both øver and taler are in the present tense. In Danish, the simple present tense is used to express actions that are currently taking place or habitual actions—similar to English usage.

Can you explain the word order in this sentence, particularly in the subordinate clause introduced by mens?

The sentence consists of a main clause and a subordinate clause. The main clause is Jeg øver udtalen, following a typical subject-verb-object order. In the subordinate clause, mens jeg taler med min ven, the order remains subject-verb-object. This structure is standard in Danish when using subordinating conjunctions like mens.

Is the comma before mens necessary, and what is its purpose?

Yes, the comma before mens is used to separate the main clause from the subordinate clause. This punctuation helps clarify the sentence structure and makes it easier to understand that the two actions are connected yet distinct.