Questions & Answers about Jeg vil besøge min ven i eftermiddag.
Why is it Jeg vil besøge... and not Jeg vil at besøge...?
Because Danish modal verbs like vil are followed directly by the infinitive, without any word meaning to.
- Jeg vil besøge = I want to visit / I will visit
- Not: Jeg vil at besøge
This is similar to English after modal verbs:
- I will go
- I can help
- I must leave
You do not say I will to go, and Danish works the same way here.
What exactly does vil mean in this sentence?
Vil can mean either:
- want to
- will
So Jeg vil besøge min ven i eftermiddag can often be understood as:
- I want to visit my friend this afternoon
- or I will visit my friend this afternoon
Which meaning is intended depends on context.
This is one reason Danish learners sometimes compare vil with skal:
- vil often expresses desire, intention, or willingness
- skal often expresses obligation, arrangement, or something more fixed
Why is the verb besøge at the end of the verb phrase?