Jeg måler også melet til kagen, fordi opskriften nemlig skal følges præcist.

I also measure the flour for the cake, because the recipe, you see, has to be followed exactly.

Breakdown of Jeg måler også melet til kagen, fordi opskriften nemlig skal følges præcist.

• jeg: I
• fordi: because
• også: also
• til: for
• kagen: the cake
• skulle: to have to
• opskriften: the recipe
• måle: to measure
• melet: the flour
• nemlig: you see
• følges: to be followed
• præcis: precise

Questions & Answers about Jeg måler også melet til kagen, fordi opskriften nemlig skal følges præcist.

Why does også come after the verb (måler) instead of after Jeg?

In Danish, adverbs like også often go in the “adverb slot” after the finite verb in a main clause:
Jeg måler også melet ...
That’s very common and neutral.

You can also put også right after the subject for emphasis/contrast:

• Jeg også måler melet ... (less natural/usually needs a special context)
  More idiomatic alternatives in real speech might be:
• Jeg måler melet også ... (possible, but changes focus)

So the given placement is the standard, most natural one.

What exactly does måler mean here—measure, weigh, or something else?

at måle literally means to measure. In cooking contexts it can cover measuring by volume (cups/spoons) or general measuring. If you specifically mean weigh, Danish often uses at veje:

• Jeg vejer melet = I weigh the flour.
  But Jeg måler melet is still understandable and common, especially if you’re measuring quantities.

Why is it melet and not mel?

mel = flour (indefinite form, like flour in general).
melet = the flour (definite form).

Here, you’re talking about a specific flour amount you’re using for this cake, so Danish naturally uses the definite form: melet.

What does til kagen mean here, and why is it til?

til kagen means for the cake (i.e., intended/used for the cake). Danish commonly uses til for purpose/intended use:

• melet til kagen = the flour for the cake
• sukker til kaffen = sugar for the coffee

Using for in Danish (for kagen) would not mean the same thing here.

Why is there a comma before fordi?

Because fordi introduces a subordinate clause (a reason clause). In standard Danish writing, you normally put a comma before subordinate clauses:
..., fordi opskriften ...

Comma rules vary depending on style (especially with “start comma” vs “no start comma”), but this comma is very typical and correct.

What happens to word order after fordi?

After fordi, you get subordinate-clause word order, which usually means the adverb (like nemlig) comes before the finite verb:

• ..., fordi opskriften nemlig skal følges præcist.

In a main clause you’d more often see:

• Opskriften skal nemlig følges præcist. (main clause word order)

So nemlig shifting position is a classic subordinate-clause feature.

What does nemlig add—does it mean namely like in English?

It’s related historically, but in modern Danish nemlig usually works more like you see / actually / after all / the thing is. It signals that the reason is important or clarifying.

So the sentence feels like:
...because the recipe, you see, has to be followed precisely.

It often makes the tone slightly explanatory.

Why is it skal følges (passive), and how would the active version look?

skal følges is passive: must be followed. Danish often uses passive to sound general/impersonal, especially with rules and instructions.

Active versions could be:

• ... fordi jeg skal følge opskriften præcist. = because I have to follow the recipe precisely.
• ... fordi man skal følge opskriften præcist. = because you/one has to follow the recipe precisely.

The passive focuses on the rule rather than who follows it.

How is følges formed, and what verb is it from?

It comes from at følge = to follow. The passive can be made with -s:

• følge → følges = is followed

So skal følges literally means shall be-followed = must be followed.

Why is præcist ending in -t?

Because præcist is the adverb form meaning precisely. For many adjectives, Danish forms the adverb with -t:

• præcis (adjective: precise)
• præcist (adverb: precisely)

You also see præcist as a neuter adjective form, but here it functions as an adverb modifying følges (how it must be followed).