Questions & Answers about Vi bor i samme hus.
Why is it bor and not lever for “live”?
In Danish, bo means “to reside/live (somewhere),” while leve means “to live (to be alive/to lead a life).”
- Correct: Vi bor i samme hus. (We reside in the same house.)
- Different meaning: Vi lever et godt liv. (We live a good life.)
- Don’t say: Vi lever i samme hus if you mean residence.
How do I say “We are living (currently) in the same house”? Is there a progressive form?
Danish present tense covers both simple and progressive meanings, so Vi bor i (det) samme hus works for both “We live” and “We are living.” If you want to stress temporariness, add an adverbial:
- Vi bor for tiden i det samme hus. (at the moment)
- Avoid English-like progressives; er ved at bo is not used.
Why is the preposition i used here and not på?
Use i for being inside an enclosed space/building: i et hus, i en lejlighed, i skoven, i byen. Use på for surfaces, islands, certain institutions/contexts, and many place names: på gaden, på en ø, på arbejde, på hotel. So with a house, it’s naturally i (det) samme hus.