Questions & Answers about Jeg lærer af min ven.
In Danish, does the verb lærer mean “learn” or “teach”?
Both, depending on the construction.
- Learn: [subject] lærer (noget) (af [nogen]) or lærer at + infinitive. Example: Jeg lærer af min ven. / Jeg lærer at køre bil.
- Teach: [subject] lærer [nogen] [noget]. Example: Jeg lærer min ven dansk.
- Note: lærer is also a noun meaning “teacher” (en lærer). Context tells you which is intended.
Why is it af and not fra in this sentence?
With the verb lære, Danish uses af to mark the source you learn from. Fra primarily indicates origin/direction or a sender.
- Correct: Jeg lærer meget af min ven.
- Not used: Jeg lærer fra min ven.
- Compare: Jeg fik et brev fra min ven (“I got a letter from my friend,” i.e., he was the sender). For something physically handed over, af is common: Jeg fik bogen af min ven.
Is the word order fixed? Can I front af min ven?
- Neutral S–V–(other elements): Jeg lærer af min ven.
- You can front the prepositional phrase for emphasis; then invert subject and verb: Af min ven lærer jeg.
- Jeg af min ven lærer is not natural Danish.