Vi skal ordne stuen, før gæsterne kommer.

We need to tidy the living room before the guests come.

Breakdown of Vi skal ordne stuen, før gæsterne kommer.

• vi: we
• stuen: the living room
• før: before
• gæsten: the guest

Questions & Answers about Vi skal ordne stuen, før gæsterne kommer.

Why is it vi skal ordne and not a form that directly means we will tidy?

In Danish, skal often means must / have to / are going to, depending on context.

So Vi skal ordne stuen can mean:

• We have to tidy the living room
• We’re going to tidy the living room

In this sentence, it usually suggests something that is necessary or planned before the guests arrive. Danish often uses skal where English might use either must, have to, or will depending on the situation.

A few comparisons:

• Vi skal gå nu. = We have to leave now / We’re leaving now
• Jeg skal arbejde i morgen. = I have to work tomorrow / I’m working tomorrow

What does ordne mean exactly?

Ordne is a very useful Danish verb with a broad meaning. It can mean:

• tidy
• fix
• arrange
• sort out
• take care of

In ordne stuen, it most naturally means tidy the living room or get the living room in order.

Other examples:

• Jeg skal ordne mit hår. = I need to fix my hair.
• Kan du ordne det? = Can you sort that out?
• Vi skal ordne papirerne. = We need to organize the papers.

So the exact English translation depends on the object and context.

Why is it stuen and not just ?