Jeg smider de gamle aviser i skraldespanden.

I throw the old newspapers in the trash can.

Breakdown of Jeg smider de gamle aviser i skraldespanden.

• jeg: I
• i: in
• gammel: old
• smide: to throw

Questions & Answers about Jeg smider de gamle aviser i skraldespanden.

What does smider mean here?

Smider is the present tense of smide, which usually means to throw, to toss, or sometimes to chuck/put something somewhere.

In this sentence, it is very natural to understand it as I throw / I toss / I put the old newspapers into the trash can.

So:

• at smide = to throw / toss
• jeg smider = I throw / I am throwing

Depending on context, it can sound a bit more casual than a very literal throw in English.

Why is it de gamle aviser and not aviserne?

Because Danish often uses a special pattern when a noun is definite and has an adjective before it.

Compare:

• aviser = newspapers
• aviserne = the newspapers

But if you add an adjective, Danish normally uses:

• de gamle aviser = the old newspapers

So in Danish, you usually do not say gamle aviserne.

A useful rule is:

• the + adjective + plural noun → de + adjective + noun
• the newspapers → aviserne
• the old newspapers → de gamle aviser

Why is it de and not dem?