Jeg følger en ny opskrift, når jeg laver suppe til min veninde.

I follow a new recipe when I make soup for my (female) friend.

Breakdown of Jeg følger en ny opskrift, når jeg laver suppe til min veninde.

• jeg: I
• en: a
• min: my
• når: when
• ny: new
• til: for
• lave: to make
• følge: to follow
• veninden: the (female) friend
• opskriften: the recipe
• suppen: the soup

Questions & Answers about Jeg følger en ny opskrift, når jeg laver suppe til min veninde.

Why is there a comma before når?

In Danish, you normally put a comma before a subordinate clause introduced by conjunctions like når (when):
Jeg følger en ny opskrift, når jeg laver suppe ...
So the comma separates the main clause from the når-clause.

Why is jeg repeated twice?

Because Danish requires an explicit subject in each clause. The sentence has two clauses:

• Main clause: Jeg følger en ny opskrift
• Subordinate clause: når jeg laver suppe ...
  So you repeat jeg rather than leaving it implied.

What does når imply here—does it mean “every time” or “this one time”?

Når usually suggests a general or repeated situation: whenever / when(ever). If you wanted a clearly one-time past situation, Danish often uses da instead (especially for past events). Here, når fits the idea of a habitual/typical time: when I make soup (in general).

Why is the verb in the når-clause jeg laver and not something like laver jeg?

In Danish subordinate clauses, the word order is typically subject + verb (no V2 inversion).
So you say når jeg laver suppe, not når laver jeg suppe.

What does følger mean exactly, and what form is it?

Følger is present tense of at følge (to follow). It’s used the same way as English present tense for habits or general truths: Jeg følger ... = I follow ... / I’m following ... (context decides).

Why is it en ny opskrift and not et ny opskrift?

Because opskrift is a common-gender noun (en-word): en opskrift.
That also controls the adjective form: en ny opskrift (not nyt).

How would the adjective change if the noun were an et-word?

For singular et-words, ny becomes nyt. Example:

• en ny opskrift (common gender)
• et nyt hus (neuter)

What’s the nuance of laver suppe? Could I use koger instead?

At lave suppe means to make soup (general: preparing it).
At koge suppe focuses on the boiling/cooking process. Both can work, but laver is broader and very common in everyday Danish.

Why is it til min veninde and not for min veninde?

Both can sometimes translate as for, but they emphasize different things:

• til often highlights the recipient/served-to aspect: soup to/for my friend (to eat)
• for can emphasize doing something on someone’s behalf or for their benefit.
  In food contexts, til is very natural.

What exactly does veninde mean—can it refer to any friend?

Veninde specifically means a female friend (a woman who is your friend).
Ven is the more general friend (often male or unspecified depending on context).

Why is it min veninde and not min venindE with something extra, or mit?

Possessives agree with the gender/number of the noun:

• min = common-gender singular (en-words): min veninde
• mit = neuter singular (et-words): mit hus
• mine = plural: mine venner / mine veninder

How is følger pronounced, and what’s going on with ø?

følger is roughly pronounced like FUR-ler (with a Danish ø sound that doesn’t exist in English). The ø is a rounded vowel (lips rounded), similar-ish to French eu in deux, but not identical. A common learner tip: try saying English uh while rounding your lips.