vil + Infinitive

Will / Want to (Vil)

Level 2

The Danish modal verb vil (from at ville) is used with a bare infinitive to express volition (wanting/intending) or prediction (what will happen).

How It Works

The construction vil + infinitiv is primarily used to express volition (wanting to) or specific types of predictions. While it looks like the English 'will', its usage in Danish is more restricted.

1. Expressing Volition (Wanting)
In everyday speech, vil usually means 'want to' or 'intend to'. If you say Jeg vil rejse, you are expressing a desire or intention. To be more polite, Danes often add gerne (e.g., Jeg vil gerne...).

2. Making Predictions
Vil can be used for predictions, but it sounds formal or very confident (like a weather forecast). For example: Det vil regne. In neutral, everyday speech, Danes prefer using kommer til at for future events.

3. The Default Future
It is important to note that the most common way to talk about the future in Danish is simply using the present tense with a time adverbial (e.g., Jeg rejser i morgen - I am traveling tomorrow).

4. Grammatical Structure

  • No 'at': Like all modal verbs, vil is followed by a bare infinitive. Never say vil at gå.
  • Word Order: In a main clause, vil follows the V2 rule.
  • Negation: The word ikke (not) comes after vil in main clauses: Jeg vil ikke gå.

5. Vil vs. Skal
Use vil for what you want to do, and use skal for what you plan to do, have to do, or are definitely going to do.

Examples (5)

  1. Jeg vil gerne have en kop kaffe.

    I would like to have a cup of coffee.

    Word by Word: I will gladly have a cup [of] coffee.

    Using 'vil gerne' is the standard, polite way to express 'would like' in Danish.

  2. Det vil regne i eftermiddag.

    It will rain this afternoon.

    Word by Word: It will rain in afternoon-the.

    In formal contexts like weather reports, 'vil' is used for confident predictions.

  3. Vi vil besøge vores bedsteforældre i weekenden.

    We want to visit our grandparents this weekend.

    Word by Word: We will visit our grandparents in weekend-the.

    This expresses the speakers' intention or desire to visit.

  4. Han vil ikke spise sin mad.

    He doesn't want to eat his food.

    Word by Word: He will not eat his food.

    Notice that 'ikke' comes after the modal verb 'vil'.

  5. Hvad vil du lave i morgen?

    What do you want to do tomorrow?

    Word by Word: What will you do in tomorrow?

    In a question, 'vil' asks about the person's intentions or desires.

Common Mistakes

  • Using 'at' before the infinitive.

    Jeg vil at sove nu.
    Jeg vil sove nu.

    Modal verbs in Danish, including 'vil', are never followed by the infinitive particle 'at'.

  • Using 'vil' for scheduled plans.

    Different MeaningJeg vil til lægen klokken to.
    Jeg skal til lægen klokken to.

    If you have an appointment or a plan, use 'skal'. Using 'vil' makes it sound like you just have a desire to go to the doctor, rather than a scheduled visit.

  • Using 'vil' alone with a noun to mean 'want'.

    Jeg vil en is.
    Jeg vil have en is.

    To say you want an object (a noun), use 'vil have' (want to have). 'Vil' can stand without a verb only with a direction word, such as 'Jeg vil hjem'.

How It Connects

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vil + InfinitiveLevel 2Will / Want to (Vil)

Learn This First

To use 'vil + infinitiv', you need to understand how to form the infinitive of a verb and how to structure a basic sentence with a subject and a verb. Since 'vil' is a modal verb, it is followed by the bare infinitive (without 'at'), so familiarity with the infinitive form is crucial.

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