The S-Passive for Instructions
Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds
The S-passive turns active verbs into passive instructions by adding an '-s' to the end of the verb.
- Add -s to the present tense: 'spises' (is eaten).
- Use it for general rules or instructions, not specific people.
- The -s form works for all subjects, regardless of number.
S-Passive Formation
| Active (Present) | S-Passive | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
|
lukker
|
lukkes
|
is closed
|
|
spiser
|
spises
|
is eaten
|
|
tager
|
tages
|
is taken
|
|
ryger
|
ryges
|
is smoked
|
|
bager
|
bages
|
is baked
|
|
hører
|
høres
|
is heard
|
Meanings
The S-passive is used to describe actions where the agent is unknown, irrelevant, or general. It is the standard way to write signs, recipes, and formal instructions in Danish.
General Instructions
Used for signs and public notices.
“Her ryges ikke.”
“Skoene tages af.”
Recipes
Instructions for cooking.
“Løget hakkes fint.”
“Saucen piskes sammen.”
General Statements
Describing what is generally done.
“Der tales dansk her.”
“Der spises meget brød i Danmark.”
Reference Table
| Form | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
|
Affirmative
|
Verb + s
|
Døren lukkes.
|
|
Negative
|
Verb + s + ikke
|
Her ryges ikke.
|
|
Question
|
Verb + s + der
|
Spises der kage?
|
|
Modal
|
Modal + Verb + s
|
Døren skal lukkes.
|
|
Past (rare)
|
Verb + des
|
Døren lukkedes.
|
|
Reflexive (not passive)
|
Verb + s
|
Vi ses.
|
طيف الرسمية
Rygning er ikke tilladt. (Public sign)
Her ryges ikke. (Public sign)
Ingen rygning her. (Public sign)
Ikke ryge her, mand. (Public sign)
S-Passive Usage
Public
- ryges smoking
Kitchen
- bages baking
Rules
- lukkes closing
أمثلة حسب المستوى
Her ryges ikke.
Smoking is not allowed here.
Døren lukkes.
The door is closed.
Skoene tages af.
Shoes are taken off.
Der tales dansk.
Danish is spoken.
Løget hakkes fint.
The onion is chopped finely.
Kagen bages i 30 minutter.
The cake is baked for 30 minutes.
Saucen piskes sammen.
The sauce is whisked together.
Bordet dækkes nu.
The table is being set now.
Der arbejdes hårdt på projektet.
Hard work is being done on the project.
Reglerne følges nøje.
The rules are followed closely.
Beslutningen tages i morgen.
The decision is made tomorrow.
Huset sælges hurtigt.
The house is sold quickly.
Det forventes, at alle møder op.
It is expected that everyone shows up.
Spørgsmålet diskuteres på mødet.
The question is discussed at the meeting.
Resultatet ses tydeligt her.
The result is seen clearly here.
Det anbefales at læse bogen.
It is recommended to read the book.
Det antages, at modellen er korrekt.
It is assumed that the model is correct.
Lovgivningen ændres løbende.
The legislation is changed continuously.
Problemet løses bedst ved dialog.
The problem is best solved by dialogue.
Det erkendes, at fejlen skete.
It is acknowledged that the error occurred.
Det tilstræbes at opnå konsensus.
It is strived to achieve consensus.
Det formodes, at tendensen fortsætter.
It is presumed that the trend continues.
Det betragtes som en nødvendighed.
It is considered a necessity.
Det understreges, at sikkerheden prioriteres.
It is emphasized that safety is prioritized.
سهل الخلط
Both end in -s. Reflexive means 'each other', passive means 'done to'.
Both are passive. S-passive is general, Bli-passive is specific.
They end in -s but are active.
أخطاء شائعة
Jeg spises æblet.
Æblet spises.
Døren lukke-s.
Døren lukkes.
Her ryge s ikke.
Her ryges ikke.
Døren er lukkes.
Døren lukkes.
Vi ses i biografen (passive).
Vi ses i biografen (reflexive).
Kagen bages af mig.
Jeg bager kagen.
Det spises meget.
Der spises meget.
Døren lukkedes i går.
Døren blev lukket i går.
Han ses i byen.
Han bliver set i byen.
Det anbefales at man gør det.
Det anbefales at gøre det.
Det antages at han er skyldig.
Det antages, at han er skyldig.
Det tilstræbes at vi vinder.
Det tilstræbes at vinde.
Det ses som en fejl.
Det betragtes som en fejl.
Det understreges af læreren.
Læreren understreger.
أنماط الجُمل
Her ___ ikke.
___ bages i 30 minutter.
Det ___ at alle møder op.
Problemet ___ bedst ved dialog.
Real World Usage
Her ryges ikke.
Løget hakkes.
Reglerne følges.
Der ses frem til festen.
Det forventes, at man er punktlig.
Mad tilberedes nu.
Look for the S
Don't use 'er'
Use 'der'
Be formal
Smart Tips
Look for the -s suffix to understand the rule.
Use the S-passive for every step.
Use the S-passive to sound more objective.
Ask: Is it a rule? If yes, it's passive.
النطق
The -s sound
The 's' is pronounced like a soft 's' in English. It does not change the vowel sound of the verb.
Falling intonation
Døren lukkes ↘
Used for firm instructions or signs.
احفظها
وسيلة تذكّر
Think of the 'S' as a 'Sign' marker. If you see an 'S' at the end of a verb on a sign, it's a rule!
ربط بصري
Imagine a giant letter 'S' made of metal, hanging on a door. It's a 'Sign' that the door is 'Closed' (Lukkes).
Rhyme
Add an S to make it passive, for a rule that's quite massive.
Story
Jens is in the kitchen. He reads a recipe: 'Løget hakkes' (The onion is chopped). He chops it. Then he sees a sign: 'Her ryges ikke' (Smoking is not allowed). He puts out his cigarette. He follows the rules perfectly.
Word Web
تحدٍّ
Find 3 signs in your city or online and identify the S-passive verb.
ملاحظات ثقافية
Danes love efficiency. The S-passive is the ultimate tool for concise, impersonal communication.
The S-passive comes from the Old Norse reflexive pronoun 'sik' (himself/themselves), which attached to the verb.
بدايات محادثة
Hvad står der på skiltet?
Hvordan bages denne kage?
Hvilke regler følges på dit arbejde?
Hvordan betragtes dette problem i Danmark?
مواضيع للكتابة اليومية
أخطاء شائعة
Test Yourself
Døren ___ (lukke).
Choose the correct passive form.
Find and fix the mistake:
Jeg spises æblet.
Man bager kagen.
S-passive is used for specific people.
A: Hvordan laves saucen? B: Den ___.
arbejdes / der / hårdt
Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:
Score: /8
تمارين تطبيقية
8 exercisesDøren ___ (lukke).
Choose the correct passive form.
Find and fix the mistake:
Jeg spises æblet.
Man bager kagen.
S-passive is used for specific people.
A: Hvordan laves saucen? B: Den ___.
arbejdes / der / hårdt
Match 'spiser' to its passive.
Score: /8
الأسئلة الشائعة (8)
It is rare. Usually, we use the 'blive-passive' for the past tense.
No, it is a reflexive verb meaning 'we see each other'.
It acts as a dummy subject to make the sentence grammatically complete.
Only transitive verbs that can logically receive an action.
Yes, it is very common in formal and neutral contexts.
Just add 'ikke' after the verb.
It stays the same.
Yes, especially in professional or instructional settings.
Scaffolded Practice
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Mastery Progress
Needs Practice
Improving
Strong
Mastered
In Other Languages
Man + active verb
Danish uses a verb suffix, German uses a pronoun.
On + active verb
French uses 'on', Danish uses the -s suffix.
Se + active verb
Spanish uses a separate word 'se', Danish attaches it to the verb.
Passive conjugation (-reru)
Japanese passive is much more complex and often implies suffering.
Form V/VI (ta- prefix)
Arabic is prefix-based, Danish is suffix-based.
Bei construction
Chinese is analytic, Danish is synthetic.
