Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds
In Danish, you don't put 'the' in front of a neuter noun; you attach '-et' to the end of the word.
- If a noun is neuter (en/et), add -et to the end: 'et hus' becomes 'huset'.
- If the word already ends in -e, just add -t: 'et øje' becomes 'øjet'.
- The definite suffix replaces the indefinite article 'et' entirely.
Definite Suffix Formation
| Indefinite | Gender | Definite Suffix | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
|
et hus
|
Neuter
|
-et
|
huset
|
|
et barn
|
Neuter
|
-et
|
barnet
|
|
et øje
|
Neuter
|
-t
|
øjet
|
|
et æble
|
Neuter
|
-t
|
æblet
|
|
et bord
|
Neuter
|
-et
|
bordet
|
|
et vindue
|
Neuter
|
-t
|
vinduet
|
Meanings
The definite suffix is used to specify a particular noun, equivalent to the English 'the'. In Danish, this is attached as a suffix rather than a preceding word.
Specific Reference
Referring to a specific, previously mentioned, or unique object.
“Barnet sover.”
“Æblet er rødt.”
Generalization
Referring to a category as a whole.
“Mennesket er et pattedyr.”
“Livet er svært.”
Possessive Construction
Used when a possessive pronoun is present.
“Mit barn er sødt.”
“Deres hus er flot.”
Reference Table
| Form | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
|
Indefinite
|
et + noun
|
et hus
|
|
Definite
|
noun + et
|
huset
|
|
Negative
|
ikke + noun
|
ikke huset
|
|
Question
|
er + noun + et?
|
er huset?
|
|
Adjective + Definite
|
det + adj + noun + et
|
det store huset
|
|
Possessive
|
mit + noun
|
mit hus
|
フォーマル度スペクトル
Huset er stort. (Describing a house)
Huset er stort. (Describing a house)
Huset er stort. (Describing a house)
Huset er kæmpe. (Describing a house)
Neuter Noun Definite Suffix
Consonant End
- barn child
Vowel End (-e)
- øje eye
Common vs Neuter Definite
How to make it definite
Does it end in -e?
Common Neuter Nouns
Home
- • huset
- • bordet
- • vinduet
People
- • barnet
- • mennesket
レベル別の例文
Huset er stort.
The house is big.
Barnet leger.
The child is playing.
Æblet er rødt.
The apple is red.
Bordet er her.
The table is here.
Jeg kan lide projektet.
I like the project.
Øjet gør ondt.
The eye hurts.
Sproget er svært.
The language is difficult.
Mennesket er venligt.
The human is friendly.
Det store hus er flot.
The big house is nice.
Jeg læser kapitlet nu.
I am reading the chapter now.
Vinduet er åbent.
The window is open.
Køkkenet er nyt.
The kitchen is new.
Det vigtige spørgsmål blev stillet.
The important question was asked.
Resultatet af eksperimentet var positivt.
The result of the experiment was positive.
Det lille barn sover i vuggen.
The small child is sleeping in the cradle.
Samfundet ændrer sig hurtigt.
The society is changing quickly.
Det er selve essensen af problemet.
It is the very essence of the problem.
Det uventede nederlag var hårdt.
The unexpected defeat was hard.
Det evige spørgsmål om livet.
The eternal question about life.
Detaljen i maleriet er fantastisk.
The detail in the painting is fantastic.
Det er et fænomen, der præger det moderne samfund.
It is a phenomenon that characterizes modern society.
Det subtile skift i tonen var mærkbart.
The subtle shift in tone was noticeable.
Det er det ultimative bevis på hans talent.
It is the ultimate proof of his talent.
Det uundgåelige resultat af handlingen.
The inevitable result of the action.
間違えやすい
Learners often use -en for neuter nouns.
Learners use 'det' + suffix.
Learners use 'mit huset'.
よくある間違い
det huset
huset
en huset
huset
huse
huset
barnen
barnet
det store hus
det store huset
et huset
huset
øjen
øjet
mit barnet
mit barn
det barnet
barnet
huset er en stor
huset er stort
det er det hus
det er huset
denne huset
dette hus
huset som er stor
huset som er stort
文型パターン
___ er stort.
Jeg kan lide ___.
Det ___ hus er flot.
___ af eksperimentet var godt.
Real World Usage
Jeg vil gerne have æblet.
Huset er flot!
Projektet er vigtigt.
Hvor er vinduet?
Sproget er smukt.
Vælg måltidet.
Gender is Key
No Double Articles
Listen to Natives
Dialect Variation
Smart Tips
Always learn the article with the noun (e.g., 'et hus').
Remember to add 'det' before the adjective.
Drop the suffix when using a possessive.
Focus on the rhythm of the suffix.
発音
Stød
Some words with the -et suffix may trigger the 'stød' (glottal stop).
Declarative
Huset er stort ↘
Falling intonation for statements.
暗記しよう
記憶術
Think of the 'et' as a 'net' that you throw over the noun to catch it and make it specific.
視覚的連想
Imagine a house (et hus) with a giant '-et' sticker slapped onto the front door. Every time you see a neuter noun, imagine that sticker being applied.
Rhyme
If the word is neuter and small, add -et to the end of it all.
Story
Little Barnet (the child) was playing with his toy. He found an apple (et æble). He looked at the apple (æblet) and decided to eat it. He sat at the table (bordet) and felt happy.
Word Web
チャレンジ
Look around your room for 5 minutes. Identify 5 neuter objects and say their definite forms out loud.
文化メモ
In the capital, the -et suffix is often pronounced very softly, almost like an 'e'.
In some Jutlandic dialects, the definite article is sometimes replaced by a pre-posed 'æ'.
The suffix is the standard and most widely understood form.
The definite suffix originated from the Old Norse demonstrative pronoun 'inn' (common) and 'it' (neuter).
会話のきっかけ
Hvad er det bedste ved huset?
Er barnet glad i dag?
Hvordan er projektet gået?
Hvad mener du om sproget?
日記のテーマ
よくある間違い
Test Yourself
et hus -> ___
___ er rødt.
Find and fix the mistake:
Det huset er flot.
Jeg har et barn.
Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:
er / stort / huset
Kan man sige 'mit huset'?
A: Hvad er det? B: Det er ___.
Score: /8
練習問題
8 exerciseset hus -> ___
___ er rødt.
Find and fix the mistake:
Det huset er flot.
Jeg har et barn.
et bord, et øje, et barn
er / stort / huset
Kan man sige 'mit huset'?
A: Hvad er det? B: Det er ___.
Score: /8
よくある質問 (8)
If the word already ends in an 'e', we just add 't' to avoid a double 'e'.
Only if there is an adjective before the noun. Otherwise, just use the suffix.
You have to memorize the gender when you learn the word. It's best to learn it as 'et [noun]'.
The listener will understand you, but it will sound incorrect. It's a common mistake for beginners.
Yes, Norwegian also uses a post-posed definite article.
Yes, the plural definite suffix is different (-ene).
Yes, it is the standard way to express definiteness in all registers.
Unfortunately, no. It's best to learn the article with the noun.
Scaffolded Practice
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Mastery Progress
Needs Practice
Improving
Strong
Mastered
In Other Languages
das Haus
Danish uses a suffix; German uses a preceding article.
la casa
Spanish uses a preceding article.
la maison
French uses a preceding article.
sono ie
Japanese lacks a definite article system.
al-bayt
Arabic uses a prefix; Danish uses a suffix.
nàge fángzi
Chinese does not have grammatical articles.
