såfremt

Provided That (Såfremt)

Level 4

Såfremt is the formal version of hvis (if). It is used primarily in legal, business, and official contexts to state a condition.

How It Works

1. Meaning and Register
Såfremt translates to 'provided that,' 'on the condition that,' or 'in the event that.' It is a hallmark of administrative Danish and legal Danish. Using it in casual speech sounds overly stiff or bureaucratic.

2. Word Order in the Subordinate Clause (S-A-V)
Because såfremt introduces a subordinate clause, any central adverbs (like ikke, altid, or aldrig) must be placed before the finite verb. This follows the standard subordinate clause word order.
Example: Såfremt du ikke betaler... (Provided you do not pay...)

3. Main Clause Inversion (V2 Rule)
When the såfremt-clause comes first in the sentence, it acts as the first element. Therefore, the main clause must start with the verb to satisfy the V2 rule.
Example: Såfremt det regner, aflyser vi turen. (Provided it rains, we will cancel the trip.)

4. Såfremt vs. Om
Learners must distinguish between a condition (såfremt/hvis) and an indirect question (om).

  • Condition: Jeg kommer, såfremt jeg har tid. (I will come if/provided I have time.)
  • Question: Jeg ved ikke, om jeg har tid. (I don't know whether I have time.)

Examples (4)

  1. Tilbuddet gælder kun, såfremt varen er på lager.

    The offer is valid only provided that the item is in stock.

    Word by Word: The offer applies only, provided the item is on stock.

    This is a typical sentence found in business terms and conditions.

  2. Såfremt De ønsker yderligere oplysninger, er De velkommen til at kontakte os.

    Should you desire further information, you are welcome to contact us.

    Word by Word: Provided You desire further information, are You welcome to to contact us.

    Note the use of the formal De, which often accompanies 'såfremt' in official letters.

  3. Såfremt betalingen ikke modtages inden tirsdag, pålægges et gebyr.

    In the event that payment is not received before Tuesday, a fee will be charged.

    Word by Word: Provided the payment not is received before Tuesday, is imposed a fee.

    Notice the placement of 'ikke' before the verb 'modtages'.

  4. Kontrakten kan opsiges, såfremt betingelserne ikke overholdes.

    The contract can be terminated provided the conditions are not met.

    Word by Word: The contract can be terminated, provided the conditions not are kept.

    Commonly used in legal documents to specify requirements for a contract's validity.

Common Mistakes

  • Using 'såfremt' in casual conversation.

    Different MeaningJeg kommer til din fest, såfremt det ikke regner.
    Jeg kommer til din fest, hvis det ikke regner.

    Using 'såfremt' with friends sounds unnaturally formal. Use 'hvis' for everyday situations.

  • Incorrect word order with 'ikke'.

    Såfremt du kommer ikke...
    Såfremt du ikke kommer...

    In a subordinate clause introduced by 'såfremt', the adverb 'ikke' must come before the verb.

  • Confusing 'såfremt' with 'om' (whether).

    Jeg er i tvivl, såfremt han kommer.
    Jeg er i tvivl, om han kommer.

    'Såfremt' is for conditions (if X happens, then Y). 'Om' is for uncertainty or indirect questions (I don't know if/whether X will happen).

How It Connects

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

såfremtLevel 4Provided That (Såfremt)

Learn This First

To understand 'såfremt', you need to be comfortable with basic conditional sentences using 'hvis' and how subordinate clauses affect Danish word order, particularly the V2 rule when the condition comes first.

Words in This Pattern

såfremt