Jeg skriver brevet med min blyant.

I write the letter with my pencil.

Breakdown of Jeg skriver brevet med min blyant.

• jeg: I
• min: my
• blyanten: the pencil
• skrive: to write
• med: with
• brevet: the letter

Questions & Answers about Jeg skriver brevet med min blyant.

Why does the noun “brev” become “brevet” in this sentence?

In Danish, the definite article is attached to the noun as a suffix instead of being a separate word. Since “brev” (letter) is a neuter noun, the definite ending “‑et” is added, forming “brevet” which translates to “the letter.”

How is possession indicated in the phrase “min blyant”?

The word “min” is a possessive adjective meaning “my.” It is placed directly before the noun “blyant” (pencil) to indicate possession, similar to how we say “my pencil” in English.

What tense is used in the verb “skriver,” and what does it imply in the sentence?

“Skriver” is the present tense form of the verb “skrive,” which means “to write.” The sentence “Jeg skriver brevet med min blyant” therefore means “I write the letter with my pencil,” describing an action in the present.

How does the sentence structure compare to that of English?

The Danish sentence follows a similar structure to English: it begins with the subject “Jeg” (I), followed by the verb “skriver” (write), then the object “brevet” (the letter), and finally the prepositional phrase “med min blyant” (with my pencil) that indicates the instrument used. This subject-verb-object order makes it relatively straightforward for an English speaker to understand the sentence.

What role does the preposition “med” play in this sentence?

“Med” translates to “with” in English. It introduces the prepositional phrase “med min blyant,” explaining the means or instrument (in this case, “my pencil”) by which the action of writing is performed.