Jeg tager altid støvler på, når jeg går ud i sneen, men ellers bruger jeg sko.

I always wear boots when I go out in the snow, but otherwise I use shoes.

Breakdown of Jeg tager altid støvler på, når jeg går ud i sneen, men ellers bruger jeg sko.

• jeg: I
• i: in
• men: but
• når: when
• bruge: to use
• sneen: the snow
• altid: always
• gå ud: to go out
• skoen: the shoe
• støvlen: the boot
• ellers: otherwise

Questions & Answers about Jeg tager altid støvler på, når jeg går ud i sneen, men ellers bruger jeg sko.

What does the construction "tage ... på" mean, and why is "på" placed at the end of the sentence?

In Danish, "tage ... på" is a separable verb phrase meaning "to put on" (typically used for clothing or accessories). In the sentence Jeg tager altid støvler på, the particle "på" is placed after the object "støvler" to complete the verbal expression. This separation is common in Danish, where the main verb and its particle can be split by the object.

What role does the word "altid" play in the sentence?

"Altid" means "always" in Danish. It emphasizes that the speaker habitually puts on boots when going out in the snow, indicating consistency in their behavior.

How is the phrase "når jeg går ud i sneen" constructed to express the idea of "when I go out in the snow"?

The phrase is built as a subordinate clause indicating the condition under which an action occurs. Here, "når" means "when", "jeg går ud" is the phrasal verb for "I go out" (with "ud" emphasizing the action of going outside), and "i sneen" means "in the snow". Together, they set a specific circumstance for the action described in the main clause.

What is the function of "men ellers" in the sentence, and how should it be translated?

"Men ellers" serves to contrast two different situations. "Men" means "but", and "ellers" translates as "otherwise" or "in other cases". In the sentence, it distinguishes the behavior in snowy conditions from what the speaker does on other days—wearing shoes instead of boots.

Why is the definite form "sneen" used instead of simply "sne"?

In Danish, using the definite form of a noun (by adding an ending) indicates that the noun refers to a specific or known entity rather than something indefinite. In this sentence, "i sneen" implies "in the snow"—referring to the familiar, present conditions—rather than "in snow" in a more general sense.