Jeg drikker kaffe, og så læser jeg avisen.

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Breakdown of Jeg drikker kaffe, og så læser jeg avisen.

• og: and
• læse: to read
• drikke: to drink

Questions & Answers about Jeg drikker kaffe, og så læser jeg avisen.

Why is there a comma before og?

Because og is linking two full main clauses (each has its own subject and verb):

• Jeg drikker kaffe (subject jeg
  • verb drikker)
• (og) så læser jeg avisen (subject jeg
  • verb læser)
    In Danish, it’s standard to put a comma before og when it joins two independent clauses like this.

What does og så do here—why not just og?

Og så commonly means and then / and after that, marking the next step in a sequence.
Using only og would just mean and (simple addition), while og så highlights the order of actions.

Why is the word order så læser jeg and not så jeg læser?

Danish main clauses follow the V2 rule (the finite verb is in the second position). When så is placed first, the verb must come next:

• Så læser jeg avisen. (1st: så, 2nd: læser)
  So the subject jeg moves after the verb.