Tasten virker ikke, så jeg skriver svaret i chatten.

Because tasten is the definite singular form of en tast.

• en tast = a key / a button
• tasten = the key / the button

In Danish, the definite article is usually added to the end of the noun:

• en bil → bilen
• en tast → tasten

So Tasten virker ikke means The key/button isn’t working.

On a keyboard, tast usually means a key. In other contexts, it can also mean a button.

Virker ikke means doesn’t work or isn’t working.

• virker = works / is working
• ikke = not

The verb is at virke, which often means to work, to function, or to have an effect.

In this sentence:

• Tasten virker ikke = The key doesn’t work

So it is about something not functioning properly.

In a normal Danish main clause, ikke usually comes after the finite verb.

Here the structure is:

• Tasten = subject
• virker = finite verb
• ikke = negation

So:

• Tasten virker ikke

This is very normal Danish word order.

A useful comparison:

• Main clause: Jeg skriver ikke
• Subordinate clause: fordi jeg ikke skriver

So in subordinate clauses, ikke often moves earlier, before the verb.

Here så means so, therefore, or as a result.

It connects the two ideas:

• Tasten virker ikke
• så jeg skriver svaret i chatten

So the logic is:

The key doesn’t work, so I’m writing the answer in the chat.

This så expresses a result, not time.

That is a very common question, because Danish så can behave in two different ways.

Here, så is a conjunction meaning so / therefore. After a conjunction, the next clause keeps normal word order:

• så jeg skriver svaret i chatten

That means:

• så = conjunction
• jeg = subject
• skriver = verb

But så can also be an adverb meaning then. In that case, it can take first position and trigger inversion:

• Så skriver jeg svaret i chatten = Then I write the answer in the chat

So:

• så jeg skriver = so I write
• så skriver jeg = then I write / so I write with a different structure

Danish often uses the present tense for something happening right now or in the immediate future.

So jeg skriver svaret i chatten can mean:

• I’m writing the answer in the chat
• I’ll write the answer in the chat

The exact English translation depends on context, but the Danish present tense is perfectly natural here.

This is very common in Danish:

• Jeg kommer i morgen = I’m coming tomorrow
• Jeg skriver svaret i chatten = I’ll write the answer in the chat

Because svaret is the definite form of et svar.

• et svar = an answer
• svaret = the answer

The noun svar is a neuter noun, so its definite ending is -et:

• et hus → huset
• et svar → svaret

Here, the answer is specific and already understood from the situation, so Danish uses the definite form:

• jeg skriver svaret = I’m writing the answer

Because Danish nouns have different grammatical genders.

There are two main genders in modern Danish:

• common gender: takes en in the indefinite form, and usually -en in the definite form
• neuter: takes et in the indefinite form, and usually -et in the definite form

In this sentence:

• en tast → tasten
• et svar → svaret

So the endings tell you the noun’s gender.

I chatten is the natural choice when you mean in the chat box / in the chat conversation.

• i = in
• chatten = the chat

So:

• jeg skriver svaret i chatten = I’m writing the answer in the chat

You may sometimes hear på chatten, but that more easily suggests something like on the chat platform/service. In this sentence, the idea is that the answer is being typed into the chat itself, so i chatten fits better.

Yes. Chat is a loanword from English, but Danish treats it like an ordinary noun.

So you can say:

• en chat
• chatten

That means it behaves grammatically like many other Danish nouns, even though the word originally comes from English.

Because the sentence has two coordinated clauses:

• Tasten virker ikke
• så jeg skriver svaret i chatten

The comma separates the two parts clearly.

Danish punctuation rules can be a little different from English punctuation rules, but in a sentence like this, the comma before så is very normal.

Yes. Tast can mean key or button, depending on the context.

For example:

• on a keyboard: usually key
• on a device or interface: possibly button

So Tasten virker ikke could mean:

• The key doesn’t work
• The button doesn’t work

The exact choice depends on what kind of tast the speaker means.