Der mangler en skrue i bordet, så jeg finder en skruetrækker.

Not exactly.

In Der mangler en skrue i bordet, der is a dummy subject or expletive subject. It does not mean a physical place like over there.

It works a lot like English there in sentences such as:

• There is a problem
• There is a screw missing

So here, der helps introduce the situation: a screw is missing.

Mangler is the present tense of mangle, which means to be missing / to be lacking / to be absent.

So:

• Der mangler en skrue = A screw is missing
• Bordet mangler en skrue = The table lacks a screw

A useful thing to notice is that Danish often uses mangle where English might prefer:

• be missing
• lack
• need

Also, do not confuse mangle with English to mangle. They are unrelated in meaning.

This is about gender and definiteness.

Danish nouns are mainly of two genders:

• common gender → takes en
• neuter → takes et

So:

• en skrue = a screw
• en skruetrækker = a screwdriver
• et bord = a table

Then, when the noun is definite (the ...), Danish usually adds the article to the end:

• et bord = a table
• bordet = the table

So bordet is the definite form of bord.

Because the sentence refers to a specific table/board, not just any table/board.

• et bord = a table
• bordet = the table

In context, the speaker is talking about the particular piece of furniture/object that has the missing screw, so the definite form is natural.

Because the screw is understood to belong in the table/board, not on top of it.

• i bordet = in the table / in the board
• på bordet = on the table

If a screwdriver were lying on the table, you would say på bordet.
But if a screw should be inserted into the table, i bordet makes sense.

This is one of those places where Danish follows the physical idea very closely: the screw goes into the object.

Here så means so or therefore.

It connects the two clauses:

• Der mangler en skrue i bordet
• så jeg finder en skruetrækker

So the logic is:

A screw is missing, so I get/find a screwdriver.

It shows consequence or result.

Because this så is being used as a conjunction meaning so.

After a conjunction like that, the next clause keeps normal main-clause order:

• jeg finder = subject + verb

So:

• ..., så jeg finder en skruetrækker.

If så were used differently, for example as an adverb at the start of a clause, you could get inversion:

• Så finder jeg en skruetrækker. = Then/So I find/get a screwdriver.

So both are possible in Danish, but they are built slightly differently.

Because Danish often uses the present tense for an immediate or planned action, just like English sometimes does.

Compare English:

• I’ll get a screwdriver
• I’m getting a screwdriver
• I get a screwdriver (less common in English, but possible in some contexts)

In Danish, jeg finder en skruetrækker can naturally mean I’ll go get a screwdriver or I’m getting a screwdriver now, depending on context.

So the present tense is very normal here.

Literally, finder means find.

But in context, it can feel closer to get or go find in English. The speaker is reacting to the problem by obtaining a screwdriver.

A Dane might also say:

• jeg henter en skruetrækker = I’ll fetch a screwdriver
• jeg tager en skruetrækker = I’ll take a screwdriver

So finder is understandable and natural if the idea is I’ll locate one, while henter is often more specifically go get one.

Because Danish forms compounds by writing them as one word.

So:

• skrue = screw
• trækker = puller/puller-like element
• skruetrækker = screwdriver

This is very common in Danish. English often uses separate words or hyphens where Danish prefers a single compound word.

Other examples:

• togstation = train station
• arbejdsdag = workday
• sommerhus = summer house

So skruetrækker is completely normal Danish spelling.

Yes, absolutely.

Both are natural, but they focus slightly differently:

• Bordet mangler en skrue = The table is missing a screw / The table lacks a screw
• Der mangler en skrue i bordet = There is a screw missing in the table

The version with der presents the situation more generally.
The version with bordet as the subject puts more emphasis on the table itself.

So a learner should understand both patterns.