den/det/de + Adjective

Definite with an Adjective

Level 2

In Danish, when you add an adjective to a definite noun (e.g., 'the big car'), the definite marker moves from the end of the noun to a separate word at the front: den/det/de.

How It Works

To form a definite noun phrase with an adjective, follow these steps:

1. Choose the Article: Use den for common gender (en-words), det for neuter gender (et-words), and de for all plural nouns. This same pattern is triggered by denne, dette, and disse.
2. Inflect the Adjective: The adjective must take the definite/plural ending -e. This is known as the 'weak' form. Note that some adjectives ending in vowels (like moderne) are invariable.
3. Use the Bare Noun: The noun returns to its indefinite form. You must not add the definite suffix to the noun itself. This is known as no double definiteness.

Spelling Rules for the -e Ending:
• Consonant Doubling: Adjectives with a short vowel double the final consonant (e.g., flot becomes den flotte bil).
• Syncopation: Adjectives ending in -el, -en, or -er drop the internal -e (e.g., gammel becomes den gamle bil).
• -et to -ede: Adjectives ending in -et change to -ede (e.g., stribet becomes den stribede trøje).

Important Exceptions:
• The adjective lille (small) is irregular. It stays lille in the singular definite (den lille bil) and becomes små in the plural (de små biler).
• This same pattern is also triggered by possessive pronouns (e.g., min store bil) and genitives (e.g., mandens store bil).

Example Transformation:
• Indefinite: en bil (a car)
• Definite: bilen (the car)
• Definite with Adjective: den røde bil (the red car)

Examples (4)

  1. Den røde bil holder foran huset.

    The red car is parked in front of the house.

    Word by Word: The red car stays in-front-of house-the.

    'Bil' is common gender (en bil), so we use 'den'. The adjective 'rød' gets an -e, and 'bil' stays bare.

  2. Det gamle hus er til salg.

    The old house is for sale.

    Word by Word: The old house is to sale.

    'Hus' is neuter (et hus), so we use 'det'. The adjective 'gammel' changes to 'gamle'.

  3. De små børn leger i haven.

    The small children are playing in the garden.

    Word by Word: The small children play in garden-the.

    'Børn' is plural, so we use 'de'. Note that 'lille' (small) has an irregular plural/definite form: 'små'.

  4. Jeg kan lide den blå farve.

    I like the blue color.

    Word by Word: I can like the blue color.

    Even in the object position, the pattern remains the same: article + adjective-e + bare noun.

Common Mistakes

  • Using 'double definiteness' (adding the suffix to the noun).

    den store bilen
    den store bil

    In Danish, you only mark definiteness once. If you use 'den', the noun must be in its bare (indefinite) form.

  • Forgetting the -e ending on the adjective.

    det stor hus
    det store hus

    When using a definite article (den/det/de), the adjective must always take the definite -e ending.

  • Using 'den' for a plain noun without an adjective.

    Different MeaningJeg ser den bil.
    Jeg ser bilen.

    Without an adjective, the noun normally takes the suffix: bilen. 'Den bil' is correct when stressed, and it means 'that car', like pointing at it.

How It Connects

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den/det/de + AdjectiveLevel 2Definite with an Adjective

Learn This First

To learn the definite form with an adjective, you first need to understand how basic definiteness works in Danish (the -en/-et suffixes). You also need to know how adjectives change their endings in the definite form and be familiar with the common and neuter pronouns 'den' and 'det', which function as the definite articles in this specific construction.

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Words in This Pattern

dende