har / er

Choosing Har or Er

Level 2

Danish uses two auxiliary verbs to form the perfect tense: har (have) and er (be). While har is the default, er is used for verbs that describe moving to a new place or changing into a new state.

How It Works

In Danish, the perfect tense is usually formed with har. However, a specific group of verbs uses er. Understanding the difference is key to becoming confident with Danish past tenses.

1. When to use 'har':

  • Transitive verbs: If the verb acts on an object, you must use har.
  • Activities without a goal: If you focus on the process (e.g., 'Jeg har løbet i en time'), use har.
  • Reflexive verbs: Any verb used with a reflexive pronoun always takes har (e.g., 'Jeg har lagt mig').
  • The verb 'være': The verb to be always takes har (e.g., 'Jeg har været').
  • Modal verbs: All modal verbs like 'kunne' or 'skulle' take har in the perfect tense.

2. When to use 'er':

  • Change of Location: Verbs like 'komme' (come) or 'gå' (go) use er when focusing on the destination.
  • Change of State: Verbs like blive (become), 'dø' (die), or 'vågne' (wake up) take er.
  • Verbs of Happening: Verbs like 'ske' (happen) or lykkes (succeed) always take er.

3. The 'Focus' Rule:
Some verbs can take both. Jeg har løbet means 'I have been running' (activity). Jeg er løbet means 'I have run away' (result/state).

Examples (6)

  1. Jeg har kørt bil i mange år.

    I have driven a car for many years.

    Word by Word: I have driven car in many years.

    Uses 'har' because 'bil' is a direct object (transitive) and the focus is on the activity.

  2. Han er kørt på arbejde.

    He has driven to work.

    Word by Word: He is driven on work.

    Uses 'er' because the focus is on the change of location (he is now at work).

  3. Barnet er blevet sygt.

    The child has become ill.

    Word by Word: Child-the is become ill.

    The verb blive (to become) always uses 'er' because it indicates a change of state. Note that the adjective 'sygt' agrees with the neuter noun 'barnet'.

  4. Jeg har lagt mig på sofaen.

    I have lain down on the sofa.

    Word by Word: I have laid me on sofa-the.

    Even though this describes a change of position, reflexive verbs (using mig, dig, sig, etc.) always use 'har'.

  5. Jeg har gået en tur.

    I have taken a walk.

    Word by Word: I have walked a trip.

    Even though 'gå' is motion, 'har' is used here because the focus is on the activity of walking, not a specific destination.

  6. Gæsterne er gået nu.

    The guests have left now.

    Word by Word: Guests-the are walked now.

    Uses 'er' because the guests have changed location (they are no longer here).

Common Mistakes

  • Using 'er' for the perfect tense of 'være' (to be).

    Jeg er været i København.
    Jeg har været i København.

    Even though 'være' describes a state, it always takes 'har' in the perfect tense. This is a common point of confusion for learners.

  • Using 'har' for verbs of 'happening' or 'succeeding'.

    Hvad har sket?
    Hvad er sket?

    Verbs like 'ske' (happen) and 'lykkes' (succeed) describe a change or a result and must use 'er'.

  • Using 'er' with reflexive verbs of movement.

    Jeg er sat mig ned.
    Jeg har sat mig ned.

    Even if the verb involves moving yourself, all reflexive verbs must use 'har'.

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har / erLevel 2Choosing Har or Er

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havevære