Given Before New

Level 5

Danish sentences prioritize flow by starting with 'Given' information (what we already know) and ending with 'New' information (the point of the sentence). This often involves using der-constructions or clefting to manage the weight.

How It Works

A useful Danish writing tendency is Tema-Rema (Theme-Rheme) progression.

1. Theme (Given): This is the 'hook' or context. It is usually information already mentioned or known to the listener. Because Danish is a V2 language, the first position (fundamentfeltet) is flexible. We often put the 'Given' information here, even if it's the object of the sentence.

2. Rheme (New): This is the new, important, or 'heavy' information. It often appears later in the sentence, but contrast can place new information first. New indefinite subjects can be introduced with an expletive der to fill the first position and move the subject later.

3. Object Shift (Objektflytning): A key rule for 'Given' information is light pronoun shift (a form of letledsflytning). When an object is a weak, unstressed pronoun (like den, det, mig, dig), it moves to the 'Given' area before the sentence adverbial (like ikke). Crucially, the pronoun cannot cross an unmoved lexical verb. A non-finite infinitive or participle blocks this shift; an ordinary subordinate clause also retains the lexical verb after the sentence adverb. Compare: Jeg så den ikke (Shifted) vs. Jeg har ikke set den (Blocked by the non-finite set).

4. Clefting (Kløvning): When we want to contrast or specifically focus on one piece of information, we use the frame Det er/var... der/som.... This isolates the 'New' focus clearly.

5. Topicalization: You can move an object to the front if it is the 'Given' topic, which forces the subject to move after the verb due to the V2 rule.

When The Shift Applies: In the ordinary main-clause pattern with a light referential pronoun, use Jeg kender ham ikke. After ikke, a contrastively stressed pronoun is possible: Jeg kender ikke HAM. A non-finite verb blocks crossing (Jeg vil ikke se ham), as does an ordinary subordinate order (fordi jeg ikke kender ham). Some embedded statements have main-clause order, so the label subordinate alone does not explain every case.

Examples (6)

  1. Der står en gammel cykel ude i gården.

    There is an old bicycle standing out in the yard.

    Word by Word: There stands an old bicycle out in the yard.

    Using 'der' allows the new information ('en gammel cykel') to appear later in the sentence, which sounds more natural than starting with an indefinite noun.

  2. Den film har jeg allerede set.

    That movie, I have already seen.

    Word by Word: That movie have I already seen.

    The movie is the 'Given' information (Theme), so it is moved to the front (topicalized), pushing the subject 'jeg' after the verb.

  3. Jeg så den ikke.

    I didn't see it.

    Word by Word: I saw it not.

    This demonstrates 'Objektflytning' (Object Shift). Because 'den' is a weak, unstressed pronoun and the main verb is in the V2 position, it moves before the adverb 'ikke'.

  4. Jeg har ikke set den.

    I haven't seen it.

    Word by Word: I have not seen it.

    The pronoun cannot cross the non-finite lexical verb set. Thus it remains after set, not merely because an auxiliary exists.

  5. Det var min søster, der ringede, ikke min mor.

    It was my sister who called, not my mother.

    Word by Word: It was my sister, who called, not my mother.

    This is a cleft sentence used to provide contrastive focus on 'my sister' as the new/important information.

  6. Hende kender jeg ikke.

    Her, I don't know.

    Word by Word: Her know I not.

    The object 'hende' is the known topic, so it is placed first for emphasis and flow.

Common Mistakes

  • Starting a sentence with an indefinite subject when introducing new information.

    Different MeaningEn bil holder udenfor.
    Der holder en bil udenfor.

    Both sentences are grammatical. Der holder en bil udenfor presents a car as new information; En bil holder udenfor can be appropriate in a narrative or contrast. The choice depends on what the reader already knows.

  • Omitting the subject marker in a cleft.

    Det er ham, ved det.
    Det er ham, der ved det.

    Der is a common subject marker in this cleft. Som is also possible, so Det er ham, som ved det is not a grammatical error. A subject relative marker is needed; it cannot simply be omitted.

  • Over-relying on Subject-Verb-Object (SVO) order, making the text feel repetitive.

    Different MeaningJeg så filmen i går. Jeg kunne godt lide den.
    Jeg så filmen i går. Den kunne jeg godt lide.

    By topicalizing 'Den' (the movie) in the second sentence, you connect it to the 'Given' information from the first sentence, offering another way to connect the sentences. The SVO version is also grammatical and can flow naturally in context.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

Given Before NewLevel 5

Learn This First

Information structure in Danish relies on the 'Given Before New' principle. To learn this, you need to understand how the formal subject 'der' and cleft sentences ('det er...') allow speakers to manipulate word order while still adhering to the basic V2 (verb-second) rule.