Computeren er almindelig.

The computer is ordinary.

Breakdown of Computeren er almindelig.

• være: to be
• computeren: the computer
• almindelig: ordinary

Questions & Answers about Computeren er almindelig.

Why does the noun appear as computeren instead of just computer?

In Danish, the definite article is not a separate word like the in English. Instead, it’s attached to the noun as a suffix. The -en at the end of computeren signals that it means the computer.

Why is the adjective written as almindelig without any additional ending, even though the noun is definite?

In Danish, adjectives used in a predicative position (after a linking verb like er, which means is) remain in their base form. This is why almindelig does not change its form even though the noun computeren is definite. Contrast this with attributive adjectives, which often have inflected forms depending on whether the noun is definite or indefinite.

What function does the verb er serve in this sentence?

Er is the present tense form of the verb at være (to be). It acts as the linking verb, connecting the subject (computeren) with the descriptive adjective (almindelig). Essentially, it equates the computer with the quality of being ordinary or common.

How does the word order in Computeren er almindelig compare to English?

The sentence follows a similar word order to English. The structure is subject (computeren), linking verb (er), and complement (almindelig). This is quite analogous to the English sentence The computer is ordinary, so native English speakers will find the basic order familiar.

Would the adjective almindelig look different if it were used in an attributive position instead of predicatively?

Yes. When an adjective is used before a noun (attributively), it usually takes an ending that agrees with the noun’s gender and definiteness. For example, an indefinite phrase would be en almindelig computer (a common computer) and a definite noun phrase would be den almindelige computer (the common computer). However, when used predicatively after er as in Computeren er almindelig, it stays in its uninflected base form.