Sektionen ligger ved siden af skolen.

The section is located next to the school.

Breakdown of Sektionen ligger ved siden af skolen.

• ligge: to be located
• ved siden af: next to
• skolen: the school
• sektionen: the section

Questions & Answers about Sektionen ligger ved siden af skolen.

What does Sektionen mean in English?

Sektionen is the definite form of the noun sektion, which translates to "section" or, depending on context, can mean "department". The attached -en indicates that it is specific—similar to using "the" in English.

Why is ligger used in this sentence, and what does it imply about location?

Ligger is the present tense form of the verb ligge, which means "to lie" or "to be located". In Danish, this verb is commonly used to describe where something is situated, much like saying "is situated" or "lies" in English when referring to location.

What does the phrase ved siden af translate to in English, and how is it used?

The phrase ved siden af translates as "next to" or "beside". It is an adverbial phrase used to indicate that one object or place is immediately adjacent to another. In this sentence, it tells us that the section is located adjacent to the school.

Why is skolen written with the -en ending instead of just skole?

In Danish, definite nouns are typically formed by adding a suffix. Skolen is the definite form of skole, meaning "the school". The ending -en effectively incorporates the definite article into the noun itself, much like attaching "the" in English.

What is the overall structure of the sentence, and how does it compare to English sentence order?

The sentence "Sektionen ligger ved siden af skolen." follows a typical Danish word order: a subject (Sektionen) is followed by the verb (ligger) and then an adverbial phrase indicating location (ved siden af skolen). This is similar to English structures where we say "The section is located next to the school." Although the wording differs slightly, the logical order and use of location phrases are quite comparable.

Are there any nuances in using ligger to describe a location that I should be aware of?

Yes. While ligger directly translates to "lies" or "is located," it specifically conveys a sense of physical placement rather than a state of being. In Danish, when describing where something is placed, ligger is preferred over the simple verb er (is) because it emphasizes the spatial position. This nuance is important to keep in mind when choosing verbs related to location.