Køleskabet er fyldt med mælk, kød og fisk, så jeg kan lave mange forskellige retter.

The refrigerator is filled with milk, meat, and fish, so I can make many different dishes.

Breakdown of Køleskabet er fyldt med mælk, kød og fisk, så jeg kan lave mange forskellige retter.

• jeg: I
• og: and
• være: to be
• med: with
• mange: many
• forskellig: different
• så: so
• retten: the dish
• kunne: to be able to
• fyldt: filled
• lave: to make
• køleskabet: the refrigerator
• mælken: the milk
• kødet: the meat
• fisken: the fish

Questions & Answers about Køleskabet er fyldt med mælk, kød og fisk, så jeg kan lave mange forskellige retter.

What is the role of the phrase er fyldt med in this sentence?

The phrase er fyldt med combines the auxiliary verb er (is) with the past participle fyldt (filled), and it is followed by med (with). This construction describes the state of the refrigerator, meaning that it has been filled with the listed items. It’s a common way in Danish to express that something has been actively filled or is in a state of being filled.

Why is there a comma before så in the sentence?

The comma before så separates two independent clauses. In Danish punctuation, it is standard to use a comma before coordinating conjunctions like så (so) when a new clause is introduced that explains a consequence or result. This helps to clearly mark the change in ideas and reflects a natural pause in spoken language.

What is the difference between using fyldt med and fuld af?

Although both phrases could be translated as “full of” in English, fyldt med implies that something has been actively filled, emphasizing the action or process, whereas fuld af is a descriptive adjective meaning that the object is in a state of fullness. In the context of the sentence, er fyldt med is preferred because it highlights that the refrigerator has been filled with milk, meat, and fish.

How does the adjective forskellige agree with the noun retter?

In Danish, adjectives must agree with the nouns they modify in number and definiteness. Here, retter is an indefinite plural noun meaning “dishes,” so the adjective takes its plural form forskellige (different). This agreement is essential for grammatical correctness in Danish.

Why is the item list written as mælk, kød og fisk? Is this typical for Danish?

Yes, it is typical in Danish. Items in a list are normally separated by commas, with the final two items joined by og (and). This format clearly distinguishes each item. Unlike in English where the serial (or Oxford) comma is sometimes used before the final item, Danish convention generally omits an extra comma before og.

Could the sentence be split into two sentences, and what effect would that have?

It is possible to split the sentence into two separate sentences, for example:
Køleskabet er fyldt med mælk, kød og fisk. Derfor kan jeg lave mange forskellige retter.
While this division makes the cause and effect separate, the original sentence using så (so) creates a smoother, more immediate link between the filled refrigerator and the ability to prepare many different dishes. The combined construction is often preferred to emphasize the direct consequence.