Der After A Fronted Subject
In Danish, when you move a subject out of its original clause (like in a question or relative clause), you must fill the empty spot with der. It acts as a placeholder to keep the sentence structure intact.
How It Works
This pattern, known as der-indsættelse, is a unique feature of Danish syntax. It occurs most frequently in two scenarios:
1. Subject Questions: When asking a question where the question word (like hvem) is the subject of a nested clause.
Example: Hvem tror du, der kommer? (Who do you think is coming?)
2. Relative Clauses: When the subject of a relative clause is moved further up in a complex sentence. While som is the standard relative pronoun, der is used specifically to mark the subject position.
Key Rules:
- Subject Only: Der is only inserted if the subject is missing. If you move an object, you do not use der.
- Mandatory vs. Optional: In local questions (like the example above), der is mandatory in standard Danish. In long-distance relative clauses (e.g., 'The man who I think won'), der is common in speech but often omitted in formal writing.
- Not a Pronoun: Linguistically, this der is a 'complementizer' (a linker) rather than a pronoun, which is why it cannot follow a preposition.
Examples (4)
- Hvem tror du, der har spist kagen?
Who do you think (that) has eaten the cake?
Word by Word: Who think you, there has eaten cake-the?
Here, 'hvem' is the subject of 'har spist'. Because it moved to the front, 'der' must fill the gap.
- Det er en film, som jeg ved, der er god.
It is a movie that I know is good.
Word by Word: It is a movie, which I know, there is good.
In spoken Danish, 'der' is inserted in the nested clause because the subject (the movie) was fronted by 'som'.
- Hvad er det, der sker?
What is it that is happening?
Word by Word: What is it, there happens?
This is a cleft construction where 'der' marks the subject of the action.
- Jeg kender en mand, der taler ti sprog.
I know a man who speaks ten languages.
Word by Word: I know a man, there speaks ten languages.
In a simple relative clause, 'der' functions as the subject 'who'.
Common Mistakes
Using 'der' when the object is extracted.
Hvem så du, der kom?Hvem så du komme?If 'hvem' is the object (the person you saw), you don't insert 'der'. 'Der' is strictly for missing subjects.
Omitting 'der' in subject questions.
Hvem tror du kommer?Hvem tror du, der kommer?While English can say 'Who do you think is coming?', Danish requires the placeholder 'der' to sound natural and grammatically correct.
How It Connects
Learn This First
To understand why 'der' appears after a fronted subject, you first need to be comfortable with 'der' as a relative pronoun and its role in indirect questions. This pattern is an extension of the rule that a Danish subordinate clause cannot have an empty subject position when the subject is moved or questioned.
Related Patterns
- der (relativpronomen)Who / Which as Subject (Der)
This is the basic use of 'der' as a relative pronoun subject, which forms the foundation for the extraction pattern.
Level 2 - somWho / Which / That (Som)
Som is the alternative relative pronoun that can be both subject and object, whereas 'der' is subject-only.
Level 2 - det er ... der/somCleft Sentence
Cleft sentences frequently use 'der' to emphasize the subject of a sentence.
Level 3 - der (formelt subjekt)Expletive Der
Explains the use of 'der' as an expletive (like 'there is'), which is syntactically related to the extraction 'der'.
Level 2
Words in This Pattern
Practice Der After A Fronted Subject in Bubblegum
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