da (konjunktion)

When (Single Past Event) (Da)

Level 2

Use da to talk about a specific 'when' in the past (e.g., 'When I was a child') or to provide a reason ('Since it was raining').

How It Works

The word da serves two primary roles in Danish:

1. Temporal 'When' (Past Only)
Use da when referring to a specific, one-time event or a bounded period that is now finished. Even long periods like 'childhood' use da because they are viewed as a single completed block of time.
Example: 'Da jeg var barn' (When I was a child).

2. Causal 'Since/As'
Da can also introduce a reason. In this sense, it is not restricted to the past and can be used in the present tense.
Example: 'Da jeg er træt, går jeg i seng' (Since I am tired, I am going to bed).

Word Order Rules:

  • Subordinate Clause: In the clause starting with da, the word order is Subject - Adverb - Verb. If you use ikke, it must come before the verb.
  • Main Clause Inversion: If the da-clause comes first in the sentence, the main clause must follow the V2 rule, meaning the verb comes before the subject.

Examples (5)

  1. Da jeg kom hjem, var lyset slukket.

    When I got home, the light was off.

    Word by Word: When I came home, was the-light turned-off.

    This describes a single, specific event in the past. Note the V2 inversion ('var lyset') in the main clause.

  2. Hun blev glad, da hun så gaven.

    She became happy when she saw the gift.

    Word by Word: She became happy, when she saw the-gift.

    A specific past moment. Since the 'da' clause is at the end, the main clause maintains normal word order.

  3. Da han ikke svarede, gik jeg min vej.

    When he didn't answer, I went away.

    Word by Word: When he not answered, went I my way.

    Notice that 'ikke' comes before the verb 'svarede' inside the 'da' clause.

  4. Da det regnede, blev vi inde.

    As it was raining, we stayed inside.

    Word by Word: As it rained, stayed we inside.

    Here 'da' is used causally to explain why they stayed inside.

  5. Da jeg var barn, boede jeg i Odense.

    When I was a child, I lived in Odense.

    Word by Word: When I was child, lived I in Odense.

    Even though childhood lasts years, it is a finished period, so 'da' is used.

Common Mistakes

  • Using 'når' instead of 'da' for past events.

    Når jeg var barn, spillede jeg fodbold.
    Da jeg var barn, spillede jeg fodbold.

    Learners often use 'når' for childhood, but 'når' is for repeated or future events. Since childhood is a finished past period, 'da' is required.

  • Incorrect word order with 'ikke' in the 'da' clause.

    Da jeg så ikke ham, gik jeg.
    Da jeg ikke så ham, gik jeg.

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

  • Using 'da' for future events.

    Jeg ringer, da jeg kommer hjem i aften.
    Jeg ringer, når jeg kommer hjem i aften.

    'Da' cannot be used for the future. Use 'når' for 'when' in the future.

How It Connects

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

da (konjunktion)Level 2When (Single Past Event) (Da)

Learn This First

To use 'da' correctly, you need to understand that it is strictly for single, completed events in the past. This requires knowledge of past tense verbs and the specific word order rules for subordinate clauses in Danish.

Words in This Pattern

da