Impersonal Passive (der danses)

Level 4

The impersonal passive (upersonlig passiv) uses the dummy subject der (there) to describe an action as a general occurrence. It is primarily used with intransitive verbs (verbs without objects) like 'to dance' or 'to talk'.

How It Works

The impersonal passive is a sophisticated way to express that 'something is being done' without mentioning who is doing it.

1. The Role of 'Der'
In Danish, every sentence needs a subject. Since these verbs don't have an object to promote, the word der acts as a 'dummy' or formal subject to fill the slot.

2. V2 Inversion and Stylistic Omission
Because of V2 word order, if an adverbial (like a location) starts the sentence, der moves to the third position: Her ryges der ikke (Smoking is not done here). However, in formal signs or instructions, it is a common stylistic choice to drop der entirely: Her ryges ikke. Note that dropping it in standard speech can sound telegraphic or incomplete.

3. Verb Selection
This pattern only works with unergative verbs—actions that are voluntary or involve effort (e.g., arbejde, danse, ryge). You cannot use it with involuntary changes of state like 'to fall' or 'to die'.

4. S-Passive vs. Blive-Passive

  • S-Passive: Used for general rules, signs, or habitual actions. Der ryges ikke her (Smoking is not done here).
  • Blive-Passive: Used for specific, concrete events in the past or present. Der blev grinet meget (There was a lot of laughing).

5. Register
This form is common in formal writing and official signs. In casual speech, Danes usually prefer the man-paraphrase (e.g., 'Man må ikke ryge').

Examples (5)

  1. Der danses hele natten.

    There is dancing all night long.

    Word by Word: There is-danced whole night-the.

    Uses the s-passive to describe a general or habitual activity occurring during the night.

  2. Der blev talt meget om filmen.

    There was much talk about the movie.

    Word by Word: There became talked much about movie-the.

    Uses the blive-passive to report a specific event that happened in the past.

  3. Der må ikke ryges i bussen.

    Smoking is not permitted on the bus.

    Word by Word: There may not be-smoked in bus-the.

    A classic formal instruction using a modal verb and the s-passive.

  4. Der arbejdes hårdt på projektet lige nu.

    Hard work is being done on the project right now.

    Word by Word: There is-worked hard on project-the right now.

    Focuses on the activity of working rather than the specific people working.

  5. Der blev grinet og sunget til festen.

    There was laughing and singing at the party.

    Word by Word: There became laughed and sung to party-the.

    Describes the atmosphere of a specific event using intransitive verbs in the passive.

Common Mistakes

  • Using 'det' instead of 'der' as the dummy subject.

    Det blev danset hele natten.
    Der blev danset hele natten.

    In English, we use 'it' (It was danced), but Danish requires der for existential and impersonal passive constructions when the subject position is not filled by another element.

  • Omitting 'der' when it is the first element of the sentence.

    Blev talt meget om det.
    Der blev talt meget om det.

    Danish syntax requires the subject position to be filled. If no other word (like an adverbial) starts the sentence, you must use der.

  • Using the past s-passive where speech would use 'blev talt'.

    Different MeaningDer taltes meget i går.
    Der blev talt meget i går.

    'Der taltes meget i går' uses the s-passive and is correct but formal, as in written Danish. In everyday speech, the blive-passive 'Der blev talt meget i går' is the more natural choice.

How It Connects

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Impersonal Passive (der danses)Level 4

Learn This First

To understand the impersonal passive, you must first be comfortable with the two main ways of forming the passive in Danish (using -s or blive). Additionally, you need to understand how 'der' functions as a formal subject (expletive) to occupy the first position in sentences where there is no semantic subject performing the action.

Words in This Pattern

der