hvis

If (Hvis)

Level 2

Use hvis to express a condition ('if'). It triggers specific word order rules in both the condition and the result.

How It Works

The Danish conjunction hvis functions similarly to the English 'if', but with specific grammatical requirements:

1. Subordinate Clause Word Order:
In the clause starting with hvis, sentence adverbs like ikke (not) or altid (always) must come before the verb. This is known as subordinate clause word order.

2. Main Clause Inversion (V2) and 'så':
If you start your sentence with the hvis-clause, the entire clause occupies 'position 1'. Therefore, the main clause must start with the verb to satisfy the verb-second rule. Often, Danes insert the particle så (so/then) before the verb in the main clause for flow.

  • Hvis det regner, bliver jeg hjemme.
  • Hvis det regner, så bliver jeg hjemme.

3. Real vs. Unreal Conditions:
For real conditions, use the present tense. For hypothetical conditions, Danish uses tense backshifting (using the past tense).

4. Hvis vs. Om:
If you can replace 'if' with 'whether', you must use om instead of hvis.

5. The 'Whose' Homonym:
Be aware that hvis is also the genitive form of 'hvem' (who). In this case, it means whose and is followed by a noun.

  • Hvis bog er det? (Whose book is it?)

Examples (6)

  1. Hvis det er solskin, tager vi på stranden.

    If it is sunny, we go to the beach.

    Word by Word: If it is sunshine, take we on the-beach.

    Notice the V2 inversion: 'tager' (verb) comes before 'vi' (subject) because the 'hvis'-clause is in the first position.

  2. Hvis det regner, så bliver jeg hjemme.

    If it rains, (then) I stay home.

    Word by Word: If it rains, so stay I home.

    The particle 'så' is often used to introduce the main clause when the 'hvis'-clause comes first. The verb still follows immediately after 'så'.

  3. Hvis bil er det?

    Whose car is it?

    Word by Word: Whose car is it?

    In this context, 'hvis' is the genitive form of 'hvem' (who), meaning 'whose'.

  4. Hvis du ikke kommer, bliver jeg ked af det.

    If you don't come, I will be sad.

    Word by Word: If you not come, become I sorry of it.

    In the 'hvis'-clause, 'ikke' comes before the verb 'kommer'.

  5. Jeg køber bilen, hvis jeg har penge nok.

    I will buy the car if I have enough money.

    Word by Word: I buy the-car, if I have money enough.

    When the 'hvis'-clause comes second, the main clause keeps its standard S-V-O order.

  6. Hvis jeg var rig, ville jeg rejse jorden rundt.

    If I were rich, I would travel around the world.

    Word by Word: If I was rich, would I travel the-earth around.

    This uses the past tense ('var') to express a hypothetical (unreal) condition.

Common Mistakes

  • Using 'hvis' for indirect questions (whether).

    Jeg ved ikke, hvis han kommer.
    Jeg ved ikke, om han kommer.

    Use om when 'if' means 'whether'. Use 'hvis' only for conditions.

  • Forgetting V2 inversion in the main clause.

    Hvis det regner, jeg bliver hjemme.
    Hvis det regner, bliver jeg hjemme.

    Because the 'hvis'-clause is the first element, the verb must be the second element in the sentence to follow V2 word order.

  • Confusing 'hvis' (if) with 'hvis' (whose).

    Hvem bil er det?
    Hvis bil er det?

    When asking 'whose', you must use the genitive form hvis instead of 'hvem'.

How It Connects

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hvisLevel 2If (Hvis)

Learn This First

To learn 'hvis' (if), you need to understand how Danish handles subordinate clauses and the resulting word order changes. Specifically, when a 'hvis' clause starts a sentence, the main clause that follows must undergo inversion (V2 rule), where the verb comes before the subject. You also need basic verb conjugation to form the actions within the condition.

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hvis