Danish Prepositions of Time: Rules and Examples

Learning Danish prepositions of time can be a bit of a challenge for English speakers, but with the right guidance and examples, it becomes much easier. Prepositions of time are words that help us indicate when something happens. In Danish, these include words like “i”, “på”, “om”, and “fra”, among others. In this article, we will delve into the rules and provide plenty of examples to help you understand how to use Danish prepositions of time effectively.

Understanding Danish Prepositions of Time

Prepositions of time in Danish can be divided into several categories based on their usage. We will cover the most common ones and explain their typical uses with examples.

1. “I” – In

The preposition “i” is used in Danish to indicate a period of time within which something happens. It is similar to the English preposition “in”. Here are some rules and examples:

1.1. Months and Years
– “i” is used to denote months and years.
– Example: “i januar” (in January), “i 2022” (in 2022).

1.2. Seasons
– “i” is also used for seasons.
– Example: “i vinteren” (in the winter), “i sommeren” (in the summer).

1.3. Decades and Centuries
– When talking about decades and centuries, “i” is the appropriate preposition.
– Example: “i 1990’erne” (in the 1990s), “i det 21. århundrede” (in the 21st century).

1.4. Time of Day
– “i” can be used for general times of day.
– Example: “i morgen” (in the morning), “i aftes” (in the evening).

Examples in Sentences
– “Jeg rejser til Spanien i sommeren.” (I am traveling to Spain in the summer.)
– “Hun blev født i 1995.” (She was born in 1995.)
– “Vi mødes i morgen.” (We meet in the morning.)

2. “På” – On

The preposition “på” is often used to specify days and specific times. It is equivalent to the English “on”.

2.1. Days of the Week
– “på” is used with days of the week.
– Example: “på mandag” (on Monday), “på fredag” (on Friday).

2.2. Specific Dates
– It is also used for specific dates.
– Example: “på min fødselsdag” (on my birthday), “på den 25. december” (on the 25th of December).

Examples in Sentences
– “Vi skal til koncert på lørdag.” (We are going to a concert on Saturday.)
– “Jeg har en aftale på torsdag.” (I have an appointment on Thursday.)
– “Festen er på den 31. oktober.” (The party is on the 31st of October.)

3. “Om” – At/In

“Om” is a versatile preposition in Danish used for recurring events or unspecified times.

3.1. Recurring Times
– It is used for events that happen regularly.
– Example: “om morgenen” (in the morning), “om aftenen” (in the evening).

3.2. Unspecified Time
– “Om” can indicate an unspecified time in the future.
– Example: “om et øjeblik” (in a moment), “om lidt” (in a while).

Examples in Sentences
– “Vi mødes om eftermiddagen.” (We meet in the afternoon.)
– “Hun kommer om et øjeblik.” (She will come in a moment.)
– “Jeg læser ofte bøger om natten.” (I often read books at night.)

4. “Fra” – From

The preposition “fra” is used to denote the starting point of a time period, similar to the English “from”.

4.1. Beginning of a Time Period
– “Fra” is used to indicate the start of a time period.
– Example: “fra mandag til fredag” (from Monday to Friday), “fra klokken 8” (from 8 o’clock).

Examples in Sentences
– “Butikken er åben fra klokken 10.” (The store is open from 10 o’clock.)
– “Jeg arbejder fra morgen til aften.” (I work from morning to evening.)
– “Kurset løber fra september til december.” (The course runs from September to December.)

5. “Til” – To/Until

“Til” is used to indicate the end point of a time period, similar to the English “to” or “until”.

5.1. End of a Time Period
– “Til” is used to denote the end of a time period.
– Example: “til mandag” (until Monday), “til klokken 5” (until 5 o’clock).

Examples in Sentences
– “Jeg bliver til klokken 9.” (I will stay until 9 o’clock.)
– “Mødet varer til torsdag.” (The meeting lasts until Thursday.)
– “Butikken er åben til midnat.” (The store is open until midnight.)

6. “Siden” – Since

“Siden” indicates the starting point of an action or state that continues up to the present, similar to the English “since”.

6.1. Starting Point of an Ongoing Action
– “Siden” is used to denote the beginning of something that continues.
– Example: “siden i går” (since yesterday), “siden 2010” (since 2010).

Examples in Sentences
– “Jeg har boet her siden 2015.” (I have lived here since 2015.)
– “Han har ikke spist noget siden morgenmaden.” (He hasn’t eaten anything since breakfast.)
– “Vi har været venner siden barndommen.” (We have been friends since childhood.)

7. “Inden” – Before

The preposition “inden” is used to indicate a point in time before something happens, similar to “before” in English.

7.1. Before a Specific Time
– “Inden” is used to specify a time before a particular event or time.
– Example: “inden middag” (before noon), “inden mødet” (before the meeting).

Examples in Sentences
– “Jeg skal færdiggøre arbejdet inden klokken 5.” (I need to finish the work before 5 o’clock.)
– “Hun ankom inden festen begyndte.” (She arrived before the party started.)
– “Vi skal være der inden solnedgang.” (We need to be there before sunset.)

8. “Efter” – After

The preposition “efter” is used to indicate a point in time following an event, similar to “after” in English.

8.1. After a Specific Time
– “Efter” is used to specify a time after a particular event or time.
– Example: “efter frokost” (after lunch), “efter arbejde” (after work).

Examples in Sentences
– “Vi går i biografen efter middag.” (We are going to the cinema after lunch.)
– “Hun kom hjem efter arbejdet.” (She came home after work.)
– “Jeg tager en lur efter at have studeret.” (I take a nap after studying.)

Common Mistakes and Tips

When learning Danish prepositions of time, it’s common to make a few mistakes. Here are some tips to help you avoid them:

1. Mixing Up “i” and “på”
– Remember that “i” is used for months, years, and seasons, while “på” is used for days of the week and specific dates.

2. Confusing “om” with “i”
– Use “om” for recurring events and unspecified times in the future, and “i” for more specific periods.

3. Forgetting the Context
– Pay attention to the context of the sentence to choose the correct preposition. For example, “i morgen” (in the morning) vs. “om morgenen” (in the mornings, regularly).

4. Practice with Examples
– Regular practice with sentence examples can help solidify your understanding. Try to use new prepositions in your daily conversation or writing.

5. Listen to Native Speakers
– Listening to native Danish speakers can help you get a feel for the natural use of prepositions in context.

Conclusion

Mastering Danish prepositions of time is an essential part of becoming proficient in the language. By understanding the rules and practicing with examples, you can improve your ability to communicate time-related information accurately. Remember to pay attention to the context, and don’t be afraid to make mistakes as you learn. With patience and practice, you’ll find that using Danish prepositions of time becomes second nature. Happy learning!