Sæt lygten fast på cyklen, før du kører hjem i mørket.

Fasten the light to the bicycle before you ride home in the dark.

Breakdown of Sæt lygten fast på cyklen, før du kører hjem i mørket.

• i: in
• på: on
• før: before
• cyklen: the bicycle

Questions & Answers about Sæt lygten fast på cyklen, før du kører hjem i mørket.

Why does sæt come first, and what form is it?

Sæt is the imperative form of at sætte (to put / to set / to attach).

In Danish, commands often begin directly with the imperative verb:

• Sæt lygten fast = Attach the light
• Kom her = Come here
• Vent lidt = Wait a moment

So the sentence begins with a direct instruction.

What does sætte ... fast mean here?

Here, sætte ... fast means to fasten / attach securely.

So:

• Sæt lygten fast = Fasten the light
• not just put the light somewhere, but make sure it is fixed firmly in place

The word fast often means firmly, securely, fixed in this kind of expression.

Why is it lygten and not en lygte?

Lygten is the definite form of lygte, meaning the light / the lamp.

In Danish, definiteness is often shown by adding an ending to the noun:

• en lygte = a light
• lygten = the light

Here, lygten is used because it refers to a specific light, probably the one that belongs on the bicycle or the one both speaker and listener already know about.