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Hun smiler, for hun ved nemlig, at hun gjorde sit bedste.

Hun smiler, for hun ved nemlig, at hun gjorde sit bedste.
She smiles, because she knows, you see, that she did her best.

Breakdown of Hun smiler, for hun ved nemlig, at hun gjorde sit bedste.

hun
she
at
that
vide
to know
nemlig
you see
smile
to smile
for
because
gøre sit bedste
to do one's best
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Questions & Answers about Hun smiler, for hun ved nemlig, at hun gjorde sit bedste.

Why is for used here, and how is it different from fordi?

For and fordi can both mean because, but they behave differently:

  • for is (mostly) a coordinating conjunction, so what follows is structured like a new main clause: for hun ved nemlig ... (normal main-clause word order).
  • fordi is a subordinating conjunction, so what follows is a subordinate clause, which affects word order:
    Hun smiler, fordi hun nemlig ved, at ... (note nemlig comes before ved in a subordinate clause).

Stylistically, for often feels a bit more “written/narrative” or explanatory (like for, you see...), while fordi is the neutral everyday because.

Why is the word order hun ved nemlig and not hun nemlig ved?

In Danish main clauses you usually have V2 word order (the finite verb is in position 2). That means:

  • hun (subject) + ved (finite verb) + nemlig (sentence adverb)

So: hun ved nemlig ...

But in subordinate clauses, sentence adverbs typically come before the finite verb:

  • ... fordi hun nemlig ved ...
What exactly does nemlig mean here?

Nemlig is a sentence adverb that often adds an explanatory, clarifying tone. Depending on context it can be close to:

  • you see
  • in fact
  • actually
  • after all / as a matter of fact

Here it signals that what follows is the key explanation for the smile.

Why is there a comma before at?

Because at hun gjorde sit bedste is a subordinate clause (an at-clause) functioning as the object of ved (knows that...). Many writing styles in Danish place a comma before subordinate clauses introduced by at, so:

  • ... hun ved nemlig, at ...

Note: Some writers use a comma system where this comma may be omitted, but the version you were given is very common.

Can the at be left out, like English sometimes drops “that”?

Sometimes, especially in speech, Danish can drop at, but it’s less freely dropped than English that. With ved + a full clause, keeping at is very normal and often preferred in writing:

  • Common/written: hun ved, at hun gjorde ...
  • More informal speech (sometimes): hun ved hun gjorde ...
Why is ved present tense but gjorde past tense?

Because the knowing happens now, while the action happened in the past:

  • hun ved = she knows (now)
  • hun gjorde = she did (then)

This tense mix is completely normal in Danish (and English): She knows that she did her best.

Why is it gjorde and not something like “har gjort”?

Gjorde is the simple past and treats the action as a completed past event. Har gjort (present perfect) is also possible in many contexts, but it can shift the nuance:

  • at hun gjorde sit bedste = she did her best (at that time)
  • at hun har gjort sit bedste = she has done her best (often with relevance up to now / result-focus)

The sentence you have sounds like a clear, finished past situation.

Why does it say sit bedste and not hendes bedste?

Because Danish uses reflexive possessives (sin/sit/sine) when the possessor is the subject of the same clause:

  • hun ... at hun gjorde sit bedste = she did her own best

If you used hendes here, it would normally imply someone else’s “her” (a different female person) rather than the subject:

  • ... at hun gjorde hendes bedste would usually sound wrong or at least misleading.
Why is it sit (neuter) and not sin?

Because the possessive agrees with the grammatical gender/number of the noun it modifies:

  • sin = common gender singular (en-words)
  • sit = neuter singular (et-words)
  • sine = plural

In the fixed expression gøre sit bedste, bedste behaves like det bedste (neuter), so you get sit.

Is gøre sit bedste basically an idiom?

Yes, it’s a very standard set phrase meaning to do one’s best:

  • Jeg gjorde mit bedste.
  • Han gør sit bedste.
  • De gør deres bedste.

You’ll hear it constantly, and the bedste part is the superlative of god (good → better → best).

Why does Danish repeat hun so many times?

Because each clause needs its own subject:

  • Hun smiler (clause 1)
  • for hun ved nemlig (clause 2)
  • at hun gjorde sit bedste (clause 3)

Danish doesn’t usually omit the subject pronoun the way some languages do, so repetition like this is normal and clear.

Why use ved here—how is it different from kender?

Both relate to “knowing,” but:

  • at vide (ved) = knowing a fact/information: hun ved, at ...
  • at kende (kender) = being familiar with a person/thing/place: hun kender ham / byen / bogen

Since this is “knowing that she did her best” (a fact), ved is the correct choice.