Jeg slukker for computeren, før jeg går i seng.

I turn off the computer before I go to bed.

Breakdown of Jeg slukker for computeren, før jeg går i seng.

• jeg: I
• før: before
• computeren: the computer
• slukke for: to turn off
• gå i seng: to go to bed

Questions & Answers about Jeg slukker for computeren, før jeg går i seng.

Why does slukke need for here — what does slukke for computeren literally mean?

In Danish, you typically turn off a device with slukke for + [device].
So Jeg slukker for computeren is literally like “I switch off the power/operation for the computer,” i.e. “I turn off the computer.”
You can also see slukke used without for when you turn off something like a light: Jeg slukker lyset (“I turn off the light”), but for many appliances/devices Danish strongly prefers slukke for.

Could I say Jeg slukker computeren without for?

It’s generally not the normal choice. For a computer, slukke for computeren is the idiomatic form.
Slukke computeren may sound incomplete or unnatural to many speakers (though you might hear it in very casual speech). If you want to sound native-like, use slukke for.

Why is there a comma before før?

Because før jeg går i seng is a subordinate clause (it has its own subject jeg and verb går). In Danish, a subordinate clause is typically separated by a comma from the main clause:
Jeg slukker for computeren, før jeg går i seng.

Why does Danish use før and not something like inden here?

Both can work, but they’re not identical in feel.

• før = “before” (very common and neutral)
• inden = “before” with a sense of “prior to,” sometimes a bit more formal/explicit (“before doing X”)
  Your sentence is perfectly natural with før. You could also say: … inden jeg går i seng, which is also correct.

Why is it går i seng (go in bed) and not “go to bed” like English?

Danish idiom is gå i seng (“go into bed”), meaning “go to bed.”
Similarly, “be in bed” is være i seng. It’s just a different fixed expression than English.

What is the word order in før jeg går i seng — why is it jeg går and not går jeg?

In Danish main clauses, the verb is usually in 2nd position (V2), so you often get inversion like så går jeg.
But in subordinate clauses introduced by words like før, Danish uses subject + verb (no V2):

• Main clause style: Så går jeg i seng.
• Subordinate clause style: … før jeg går i seng.

Why is jeg repeated — can Danish drop the second jeg?

No, you generally can’t drop the subject in Danish the way some languages can. Each clause needs its own subject. So you need:
Jeg slukker … før jeg går …
Repeating jeg is completely normal.

Is computeren definite because we already know which computer it is?

Yes. computeren is definite singular (“the computer”). Danish often uses the definite form when the thing is understood from context (e.g., your own computer at home).
If you meant “a computer” (more general/indefinite), you’d say en computer.

How do I form the definite: why computer + en becomes computeren?

Danish usually forms the definite by adding the definite ending to the noun:

• en computer (indefinite)
• computeren (definite)
  For en-words, the definite ending is typically -en; for et-words, it’s typically -et.

Is slukker present tense — and why is it used for a routine/habit?

Yes, slukker is present tense of slukke. Danish present tense often covers both:

• what you do now (“I’m turning off the computer”)
• what you do habitually (“I turn off the computer (before bed)”)
  Context (like the “before I go to bed” part) makes it sound routine.

Could I use vil or skal here instead — like “I will/I’m going to turn off…”?

Yes, depending on meaning:

• Jeg slukker for computeren… = neutral (“I turn off / I’m turning off”)
• Jeg vil slukke for computeren… = intention/volition (“I want to / will”)
• Jeg skal slukke for computeren… = obligation/plan (“I’m supposed to / I have to / I’m going to” in a planned sense)
  For a simple routine statement, plain present slukker is the most natural.

Can I say før jeg går i sengen with the definite form?

No, the idiom is gå i seng (without definite).
i sengen (“in the bed”) is possible in other contexts, but it changes the meaning and sounds literal/specific, like a particular bed you’re physically in. For “go to bed” as a routine, use i seng.

Is there any difference between slukke for and lukke ned about computers?

Yes:

• slukke for computeren = turn off the computer (power it off)
• lukke computeren ned / lukke ned for computeren = “shut the computer down” (often implying a proper shutdown process)
  In everyday speech, slukke for is common and can still imply shutting down normally, but lukke ned is closer to “shut down.”

Where does for go if I use a pronoun — is it slukker for den?

Yes: slukke for + pronoun works normally:

• Jeg slukker for den. = “I turn it off.”
  For “the computer” you’d typically still use for den (or just repeat computeren if clarity matters).