Vi går ind på caféen, hvis det begynder at regne.

We go into the café if it starts to rain.

Breakdown of Vi går ind på caféen, hvis det begynder at regne.

• gå: to go
• vi: we
• at: to
• det: it

Questions & Answers about Vi går ind på caféen, hvis det begynder at regne.

Why is går in the present tense? Shouldn't it be something like will go?

Danish often uses the present tense to talk about the future when the context makes the future meaning clear.

So Vi går ind på caféen, hvis det begynder at regne literally uses present tense, but in natural English it can mean We’ll go into the café if it starts raining.

The hvis-clause already tells you this is about a future possibility, so Danish does not need a separate future form here.

What does går ind mean here? Is it literally walk in?

It can be literally walk in, but in everyday Danish it often works more like English go in or go inside.

So here, går ind does not strongly emphasize walking. It just means entering the café.

Why does Danish say ind på caféen and not ind i caféen?

With places like cafés, shops, schools, and offices, Danish very often uses ind på when talking about going into them as places or establishments.

• ind på caféen = the normal, idiomatic way to say into the café
• ind i caféen = more focused on the physical interior space

So ind på caféen is the natural choice here.

Why is it caféen and not just café?