Jeg kan ikke vente længe ved busstoppestedet, hvis det regner.

Because in Danish, ikke usually comes after the finite verb in a main clause.

Here, the finite verb is kan:

• Jeg kan ikke vente
• literally: I can not wait

This word order is very normal in Danish. English often puts not directly after can, and Danish does the same idea with ikke after the finite verb.

So:

• Jeg kan ikke vente = correct
• Jeg ikke kan vente = not correct in a normal main clause

The basic pattern is:

• subject + finite verb + ikke + rest

Examples:

• Han kommer ikke i dag. = He is not coming today.
• Vi har ikke tid. = We do not have time.

Because after a modal verb like kan, Danish uses the bare infinitive without at.

So:

• kan vente = can wait
• vil gå = will go
• skal arbejde = must/work, have to work
• må komme = may come / must come

You do not say:

• kan at vente

Common modal verbs in Danish:

• kan = can
• vil = will / want to
• skal = shall / must / have to
• må = may / must
• bør = ought to

After these, the next verb is normally just the infinitive form.

Længe means for a long time or long in the sense of duration.

So:

• vente længe = wait a long time

This is different from lang, which is an adjective meaning long:

• en lang dag = a long day
• en lang vej = a long road

But for duration as an adverb, Danish uses længe:

• Jeg sov længe. = I slept for a long time / I slept late, depending on context
• Han blev længe. = He stayed a long time

So in your sentence, længe tells us about how long the waiting lasts.

In this sentence, ved means at / by / near the bus stop, and that is very natural Danish.

• ved busstoppestedet = at the bus stop

Danish often uses ved for being located at a point or place.

You may sometimes hear other prepositions in other contexts, but ved busstoppestedet is a very idiomatic choice here.

A rough comparison:

• ved = at/by
• på = on/at, but often with different place expressions

Examples:

• ved stationen = at the station
• ved døren = by the door
• ved bordet = at the table

So a learner should mainly remember that prepositions are often idiomatic, and ved busstoppestedet is a standard, natural phrase.

Because Danish, like English, often forms nouns by combining smaller words into a compound noun. Danish just does this very consistently, and it is usually written as one word.

Here:

• bus = bus
• stop = stop
• sted = place
• busstoppested = bus stop place = bus stop

Then -et is added to make it definite:

• busstoppested = a bus stop
• busstoppestedet = the bus stop

This is very common in Danish:

• togstation = train station
• sommerferie = summer holiday
• arbejdsdag = workday

So if you see a long Danish noun, try breaking it into smaller pieces.

Because Danish usually adds the definite article to the end of the noun instead of using a separate word like the.

So:

• et busstoppested = a bus stop
• busstoppestedet = the bus stop

This happens with many neuter nouns:

• et hus = a house
• huset = the house

And with common-gender nouns, you usually get -en:

• en bil = a car
• bilen = the car

So -et here tells you the noun is:

1. neuter (et word), and
2. definite (the)

Here, det does not refer to a specific thing. It is a dummy subject, just like English it in weather expressions.

So:

• det regner = it is raining

English does the same:

• It is raining
• The it does not mean a real object

Danish weather expressions often need this dummy det:

• Det regner. = It’s raining.
• Det sner. = It’s snowing.
• Det blæser. = It’s windy.

So in hvis det regner, the det is required because Danish finite clauses normally need a subject.

This is a very common learner question.

• hvis = if
• når = when

In many cases:

• hvis is used for a condition or possibility
• når is used when something is expected or regular

So:

• Hvis det regner, ... = If it rains, ...
  • maybe it will rain, maybe not

Compare:

• Når det regner, venter jeg ikke længe ved busstoppestedet.
  • When it rains, I don’t wait long at the bus stop
  • this sounds more like a general habit or repeated situation

In your sentence, hvis is correct because it presents a condition.

Because Danish often uses the present tense after words like hvis when talking about future conditions.

So:

• hvis det regner = if it rains / if it is raining

This is similar to English:

• If it rains tomorrow, I’ll stay home.

You do not usually need a special future form in the if-clause.

Examples:

• Hvis han kommer, spiser vi. = If he comes, we’ll eat.
• Hvis jeg har tid, ringer jeg. = If I have time, I’ll call.

So regner is present tense in form, but the meaning can be present or future depending on context.

Yes, but that would mean something slightly different.

• vente = wait
• vente på noget/nogen = wait for something/someone

In your sentence:

• vente længe ved busstoppestedet = wait a long time at the bus stop

If you want to include what you are waiting for, you can say:

• Jeg kan ikke vente længe på bussen, hvis det regner.
• Jeg kan ikke vente længe på bussen ved busstoppestedet, hvis det regner.

So:

• vente can be used on its own
• vente på is used when you mention the person or thing you are waiting for

Usually, no. In Danish, jeg kan ikke vente is normally understood literally:

• I am not able/willing to wait

In English, I can’t wait often means:

• I’m really excited

Danish usually expresses that excitement differently, for example:

• Jeg glæder mig. = I’m looking forward to it.
• Jeg glæder mig virkelig. = I’m really looking forward to it.
• Jeg kan næsten ikke vente. = I can hardly wait.

So if you say simply:

• Jeg kan ikke vente many Danes may hear it as the literal meaning, depending on context.

The main clause is:

• Jeg kan ikke vente længe ved busstoppestedet

This follows a normal Danish main-clause pattern:

• Subject + finite verb + ikke + infinitive + adverb + prepositional phrase

Breaking it down:

• Jeg = subject
• kan = finite verb
• ikke = negation
• vente = infinitive
• længe = adverb
• ved busstoppestedet = prepositional phrase

Then the conditional clause:

• hvis det regner

This has:

• hvis = if
• det = subject
• regner = verb

So the full sentence is:

• main clause + subordinate clause

Yes, absolutely.

You can say:

• Hvis det regner, kan jeg ikke vente længe ved busstoppestedet.

That is very natural Danish too.

But notice what happens in the main clause after the subordinate clause: Danish keeps the finite verb in second position, so you get:

• Hvis det regner, kan jeg ikke ...

not:

• Hvis det regner, jeg kan ikke ...

This is an important rule in Danish main clauses.

Compare:

• Jeg kan ikke vente længe ved busstoppestedet, hvis det regner.
• Hvis det regner, kan jeg ikke vente længe ved busstoppestedet.

Both are correct; the difference is mainly emphasis and flow.

Then the meaning changes completely.

• Jeg kan ikke vente længe ved busstoppestedet, hvis det regner. = I cannot wait long at the bus stop if it rains.

Without ikke:

• Jeg kan vente længe ved busstoppestedet, hvis det regner. = I can wait a long time at the bus stop if it rains.

So ikke is the key negative word. Its position matters, because it negates the verbal idea kan vente.

Yes, Danes do say the whole word, because it is a normal compound noun.

Learners often find long Danish compounds intimidating, but native speakers process them as one unit.

A rough breakdown is:

• bus
• stoppe
• stedet

The exact pronunciation depends on speaking style and accent, and in fast speech some parts may sound reduced. The important thing for learners is:

1. recognize it as one noun,
2. learn the pieces inside it,
3. not be surprised by long written compounds.

Even if pronunciation feels difficult at first, the grammar is straightforward:

• et busstoppested
• busstoppestedet

Because Danish comma rules often place a comma before a subordinate clause.

Here:

• hvis det regner is a subordinate clause introduced by hvis

So writing:

• Jeg kan ikke vente længe ved busstoppestedet, hvis det regner.

is standard.

Comma rules can vary a bit depending on the system being followed and style preferences, but for learners it is very useful to recognize that Danish often marks subordinate clauses clearly with commas.