Vores træner siger, at styrketræning og udstrækning begge er vigtige, hvis man vil undgå ømhed.

Questions & Answers about Vores træner siger, at styrketræning og udstrækning begge er vigtige, hvis man vil undgå ømhed.

Why is it vores træner and not vores træneren?

After possessives like min, din, vores, Danish uses the noun in the indefinite form:

  • vores træner = our coach
  • træneren = the coach

So vores træneren is not correct. The possessive already makes the noun definite in meaning.

Why is styrketræning written as one word?

Danish writes compound nouns as one word much more often than English does. Styrketræning is made from styrke + træning, literally strength-training.

This is very normal in Danish:

  • styrketræning
  • fodboldklub
  • sommerferie

So if English uses two words, Danish will often use one compound noun instead.

Why are there commas before at and hvis?

Both at and hvis introduce subordinate clauses. This sentence uses startkomma, a punctuation style where you put a comma before a subordinate clause:

  • siger, at ...
  • vigtige, hvis ...

In modern Danish, many writers omit these commas. So a version without them can also be correct, depending on the comma system being used.

What does at do here?

Here at is the conjunction that. It introduces what the coach says:

  • Vores træner siger, at ... = Our coach says that ...

English often drops that, but Danish very often keeps at after verbs like sige, tro, mene, and vide.

Why is the word order different in Vores træner siger and at styrketræning og udstrækning begge er vigtige?

Because Danish uses different word-order rules in main clauses and subordinate clauses.

  • In a main clause, the finite verb normally comes in second position.

    • Vores træner siger ...
  • In a subordinate clause introduced by at or hvis, that rule does not work the same way. The subject comes before the finite verb.

    • at styrketræning og udstrækning begge er vigtige
    • hvis man vil undgå ømhed

This main-clause vs. subordinate-clause difference is a very important part of Danish syntax.

What is begge doing here? Could I also say både ... og ...?

Begge means both. It tells you that the statement applies to the two things mentioned: styrketræning and udstrækning.

Yes, you can also say:

  • Både styrketræning og udstrækning er vigtige.

That version is very common and often sounds a little more natural in everyday speech. The given sentence is using begge instead.

Why is it vigtige and not vigtig?

Because the subject is plural: two things are being talked about, styrketræning and udstrækning. Predicate adjectives in Danish agree in number:

  • Det er vigtigt. = It is important.
  • De er vigtige. = They are important.

So here you need the plural form:

  • styrketræning og udstrækning ... er vigtige
Why is man used? Does it really mean you?

Yes. In Danish, man is an impersonal pronoun meaning one, you, or people in general.

So:

  • hvis man vil undgå ømhed

means something like:

  • if you want to avoid soreness
  • if one wants to avoid soreness

It is not specifically masculine, even though it looks like English man.

Does vil here mean future will, or does it mean want to?

Here it means want to or intend to, not simple future.

So:

  • hvis man vil undgå ømhed

is best understood as:

  • if you want to avoid soreness

Danish vil can express future, intention, or willingness, so context decides the best translation.

Why is it vil undgå and not vil undgår or vil at undgå?

After a modal verb like vil, Danish uses the bare infinitive:

  • vil undgå
  • kan træne
  • skal arbejde
  • må gå

So:

  • undgå is correct
  • undgår would be a finite present-tense verb, which does not fit after vil
  • at undgå is also wrong after a modal verb

This is similar to English will avoid, can train, must go.

Why are there no articles before styrketræning, udstrækning, or ømhed?

Because these nouns are being used in a general or abstract way.

  • styrketræning = strength training in general
  • udstrækning = stretching in general
  • ømhed = soreness in general

Danish often leaves out the article when talking about activities, abstract ideas, or things in general:

  • Kaffe er dyrt.
  • Motion er sundt.
  • Ømhed kan være normalt.

If you meant a specific instance, you would be more likely to use an article or another determiner.

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