som
Who / Which / That (Som)
Som is the most versatile relative pronoun in Danish. It connects a noun to a clause that describes it, and it can function as either the subject or the object of that clause.
How It Works
In Danish, som is the 'all-purpose' relative pronoun. It is used to provide more information about a person or thing mentioned previously.
1. Subject vs. Object
When som is the subject of the relative clause (e.g., 'The man who lives here'), it is often interchangeable with der. However, when som is the object (e.g., 'The book that I read'), you must use som (or omit it entirely).
2. Preposition Placement
In Danish, you cannot place a preposition before som. Instead, the preposition is 'stranded' at the end of the clause. For example: 'Huset, som jeg bor i' (The house that I live in).
3. Omission
In spoken Danish, som is frequently dropped if it is the object of the clause. You can learn more about this in relative pronoun omission. You can never drop it if it is the subject.
Examples (4)
- Jeg kender en pige, som taler fem sprog.
I know a girl who speaks five languages.
Word by Word: I know a girl, who speaks five languages.
Here, 'som' acts as the subject of the relative clause 'taler fem sprog'.
- Her er den bil, som vi købte i går.
Here is the car that we bought yesterday.
Word by Word: Here is the car, which we bought in yesterday.
In this case, 'som' is the object. 'Vi' (we) is the subject of the relative clause.
- Det er den film, som jeg fortalte dig om.
That is the movie that I told you about.
Word by Word: That is the movie, which I told you about.
Notice how the preposition 'om' stays at the end of the sentence.
- Huset, som er blåt, er meget gammelt.
The house, which is blue, is very old.
Word by Word: House-the, which is blue, is very old.
'Som' remains the same even though 'huset' is a neuter noun.
Common Mistakes
Using 'der' as an object.
Bogen, der jeg læser, er god.Bogen, som jeg læser, er god.'Der' can only be the subject of a relative clause. Since 'jeg' (I) is the subject here, you must use 'som'.
Placing a preposition before 'som'.
Manden, til som jeg talte...Manden, som jeg talte til...With 'som', the preposition goes at the end of the clause, not before the pronoun.
Using 'som' to refer to a whole sentence.
Han kom for sent, som var irriterende.Han kom for sent, hvilket var irriterende.'Som' only refers to a specific noun. To refer to an entire preceding idea or action, use 'hvilket'.
How It Connects
Learn This First
To use 'som' correctly, you need to understand how to form definite nouns and how word order changes in subordinate clauses, as 'som' introduces a relative clause where the verb placement follows specific rules.
- Word Order In Subordinate Clauses
Relative clauses using 'som' follow subordinate clause word order, which is a fundamental structural requirement for this pattern.
Level 2 - -en/-etDefinite Suffix (-en/-et)
'Som' is most frequently used to provide additional information about a specific noun, which usually requires knowledge of the definite suffix.
Level 2
Related Patterns
- der (relativpronomen)Who / Which as Subject (Der)
'Der' is an alternative to 'som', but it can only be used when the relative pronoun is the subject of the clause.
Level 2 - Dropping Som
Explains when you can legally drop 'som' from a sentence in casual speech.
Level 2 - hvilket (relativpronomen)Which (Referring to a Clause) (Hvilket)
Used instead of 'som' when referring back to an entire clause or sentence rather than a single noun.
Level 3 - hvad (relativpronomen)What / Which (Free Relative) (Hvad)
Used when there is no specific noun antecedent (meaning 'what' or 'that which').
Level 3 - Relative Clause With A Preposition
Provides more detail on how prepositions behave within relative clauses.
Level 3
Learn Next
Patterns that build on this one.
Words in This Pattern
Practice som in Bubblegum
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