Hvis der kommer for meget støj fra gaden, lukker hun døren til altanen.

Questions & Answers about Hvis der kommer for meget støj fra gaden, lukker hun døren til altanen.

Why does the sentence start with Hvis?

Hvis means if and introduces a condition. The first part, Hvis der kommer for meget støj fra gaden, sets up the situation under which the second part happens.

So the structure is:

  • Hvis
    • condition
  • main clause with the result

In English, this is the same basic pattern as If it gets too noisy from the street, she closes the balcony door.

What is der doing in der kommer for meget støj?

Here der is a kind of dummy subject, similar to English there in sentences like There is a problem.

Danish often uses der when introducing something that exists or happens, especially before an indefinite noun phrase like for meget støj.

So:

  • der kommer støj = literally something like there comes noise
  • natural English: noise comes / there is noise coming

This der does not mean location here. It is grammatical, not spatial.

Why is it kommer in the present tense? Why not a future form?

Danish often uses the present tense where English might also use the present tense in conditionals.

So in a sentence with if, Danish normally says:

  • Hvis der kommer ... = If there comes / if there is ...
  • not a special future form

This is very normal. Danish does not need a separate future tense here. The present tense can refer to a future possibility.

What does for meget mean, and how is it different from meget?

For meget means too much, while meget by itself means much / a lot of.

So:

  • meget støj = a lot of noise
  • for meget støj = too much noise

The word for adds the idea that the amount is excessive.

Why is støj not plural?

Støj is usually an uncountable noun, like noise in English. You normally treat it as a mass noun, not as individual countable items.

So Danish says:

  • meget støj
  • for meget støj

not usually a plural form in this kind of sentence.

Why is the word order lukker hun instead of hun lukker?

This is because Danish main clauses follow the verb-second rule.

When the sentence starts with a subordinate clause like Hvis der kommer for meget støj fra gaden, that whole clause takes the first position. Then in the main clause, the finite verb must come next.

So the pattern becomes:

  • Hvis der kommer for meget støj fra gaden, lukker hun døren til altanen.

Not:

  • Hvis der kommer for meget støj fra gaden, hun lukker ...

This is one of the most important word-order rules in Danish.

What form is døren?

Døren is the definite singular form of dør.

  • en dør = a door
  • døren = the door

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

Why does it say døren til altanen?

Døren til altanen means the door to the balcony.

The preposition til is used because it indicates what the door leads to.

So:

  • døren til altanen = the door to the balcony
  • literally, the door leading to the balcony

This is a very common Danish pattern: noun + til + place.

Why is it altanen and not altan?

Because it means the balcony, not just a balcony.

  • en altan = a balcony
  • altanen = the balcony

Again, Danish marks definiteness by adding an ending to the noun:

  • -en for many common-gender nouns
Why is the preposition fra used in fra gaden?

Fra means from and shows the source or origin of the noise.

So:

  • støj fra gaden = noise from the street

It tells you where the noise is coming from.

Is the comma necessary after the first clause?

Yes, in normal Danish writing, a subordinate clause like the Hvis-clause is separated from the main clause with a comma.

So the comma marks the boundary between:

  • Hvis der kommer for meget støj fra gaden and
  • lukker hun døren til altanen

It helps show the sentence structure clearly.

Could you also say altandøren instead of døren til altanen?

Yes, you could. Altandøren means the balcony door.

So these are both possible:

  • lukker hun døren til altanen
  • lukker hun altandøren

The version in your sentence is slightly more explicit: it focuses on the door to the balcony. The compound noun altandøren is a bit more compact and is also very natural Danish.

AI Language TutorTry it ↗
What's the best way to learn Danish grammar?
Danish grammar becomes intuitive with practice. Focus on understanding the core patterns first — how sentences are structured, how verbs change form, and how words relate to each other. Our course breaks these concepts into small lessons so you can build understanding step by step.

Sign up free — start using our AI language tutor

Start learning Danish

Master Danish — from Hvis der kommer for meget støj fra gaden, lukker hun døren til altanen to fluency

All course content and exercises are completely free — no paywalls, no trial periods.

  • Infinitely deep — unlimited vocabulary and grammar
  • Fast-paced — build complex sentences from the start
  • Unforgettable — efficient spaced repetition system
  • AI tutor to answer your grammar questions