Danish Subordinate Clauses: fordi, at, hvis, når

A subordinate clause is the part of a sentence that can’t stand on its own. It starts with a joining word like fordi (because) or hvis (if): Vi venter, fordi toget er forsinket.

Inside it, the words come in a different order from a main clause. The one to learn first: ikke goes before the verb, not after it.

Main clause
Position 1JegVerbkommerikkeikkeResti morgen.
Subordinate clause
Joining word… fordiSubjectjegikkeikkeVerbkommerResti morgen.

In a main clause ikke comes after the verb. After fordi, at, hvis or når, it comes before it.

The order inside the clause

A subordinate clause has the same order every time: the joining word, the subject, a short adverb like ikke if there is one, the finite verb, then the rest. The V2 rule of main clauses doesn’t apply here.

Main clauseVi venter,Joining wordfordiSubjecttogetikke–VerberRestforsinket.
We’re waiting because the train is late.
Main clauseSpis mere,Joining wordhvisSubjectduikkeikkeVerberRestmæt.
Eat more if you’re not full.
Main clausePas på,Joining wordatSubjectduikkeikkeVerbridserRestskærmen.
Be careful not to scratch the screen.
Main clauseHan kom senere,Joining wordfordiSubjecthanikke–VerbskulleRestarbejde først.
He came later because he had to work first.
Main clauseJeg keder mig aldrig,Joining wordnårSubjectjegikke–Verblæser.
I’m never bored when I’m reading.

The joining words

These are the ones you’ll use most. Each one starts a subordinate clause, so each one takes the same order inside.

Word	Meaning	Example	English
at	that	Jeg ved, at han kommer.	I know (that) he’s coming.
fordi	because	Jeg er glad, fordi solen skinner.	I’m happy because the sun is shining.
hvis	if	Ring til mig, hvis du har brug for hjælp.	Call me if you need help.
om	if, whether (asking)	Jeg ved ikke, om han kommer.	I don’t know if he’s coming.
når	when (every time, or in the future)	Jeg ringer til dig, når jeg er færdig.	I’ll call you when I’m done.
da	when (one time or period in the past); also since, as	Han ringede, da jeg spiste aftensmad.	He called when I was having dinner.
som	who, which, that	Jeg har en ven, som ikke drikker kaffe.	I have a friend who doesn’t drink coffee.
selvom	even though	Vi går en tur, selvom det regner.	We’re going for a walk even though it’s raining.
mens	while	Kan du vaske tøjet, mens jeg handler ind?	Can you do the laundry while I do the shopping?

Question words start a subordinate clause too, with the same order: Jeg ved ikke, hvor han bor. (not hvor bor han). When the question word is the subject, add der: Jeg ved ikke, hvem der kommer.

When som is the subject of its clause, it fills the subject slot itself, so ikke follows it directly. You can also use der here: en ven, der ikke drikker kaffe. Both are correct.

ikke before the verb

In a main clause, ikke comes after the verb. In a subordinate clause it moves in front of it. altid, aldrig, også, tit and gerne move the same way. With two verbs, the adverb goes before the first one.

Main clause: ikke comes after the verb
Jeg kommer ikke i morgen
Subordinate clause: ikke comes before the verb
… fordi jeg ikke kommer

Main clause	Subordinate clause	English
Jeg har ikke tid.	… fordi jeg ikke har tid.	because I don’t have time
Du er ikke mæt.	… hvis du ikke er mæt.	if you’re not full
Han kommer altid for sent.	… at han altid kommer for sent.	that he’s always late
Hun kan ikke køre.	… fordi hun ikke kan køre.	because she can’t drive
Vi ses aldrig.	… selvom vi aldrig ses.	even though we never see each other

Where does it go?

Tap the gap where the word belongs.

Where does ikke go? I don’t have time.
Jeghartid.
Where does ikke go? … because I don’t have time.
… fordijeghartid.
Where does ikke go? Today I don’t have time.
I dagharjegtid.
Where does ikke go? Eat more if you’re not full.
Spis mere,hvisduermæt.
Where does altid go? I know that he’s always late.
Jeg ved,athankommerfor sent.

Starting with the clause

You can put the subordinate clause first. Then the whole clause fills position 1 of the main clause, and the V2 rule applies: the main-clause verb comes right after the comma, before its subject. Always put a comma after the clause.

main clause firstJeg spiser, når jeg kommer hjem.I eat when I get home.
clause first: verb + subjectNår jeg kommer hjem, spiser jeg.When I get home, I eat.

Position 1Hvis det regner,VerbbliverSubjectviRestinde.
If it rains, we stay inside.
Position 1Når Jonas har fri,VerbspillerSubjecthanRestfodbold.
When Jonas is off work, he plays football.
Position 1Selvom det var koldt,VerbbadedeSubjectviResti havet.
Even though it was cold, we swam in the sea.
Position 1Da det begyndte at regne,VerbgikSubjectviRestind.
When it started to rain, we went inside.
Position 1Hvis hun ikke kan komme,VerbkanSubjectIRestfejre det sammen senere.
If she can’t come, you can celebrate together later.

This is the same rule as I dag arbejder jeg: something other than the subject is in position 1. The V2 rule

når, da or hvis?

English uses when for both når and da. Danish splits it. Use da for one time, or one period, in the past. Use når for something that happens again and again (also in the past), or for something in the future. And use hvis (if) when it may not happen at all.

Danish	English	Why this word
Da jeg kom hjem, spiste jeg.	When I got home, I ate.	da: one time, in the past
Da jeg var barn, boede vi på landet.	When I was a child, we lived in the country.	da: one period in the past
Når filmen er slut, går vi hjem.	When the film is over, we’ll go home.	når: in the future
Når det regner, tager jeg en paraply.	When it rains, I take an umbrella.	når: every time
Når vi besøgte mormor, fik vi altid kage.	When we visited Grandma, we always got cake.	når: every time, even in the past
Når jeg bliver 30, holder jeg en fest.	When I turn 30, I’ll have a party.	når: it will happen
Hvis jeg vinder i Lotto, køber jeg et sommerhus.	If I win the lottery, I’ll buy a summer house.	hvis: it may not happen

Common mistakes

Wrong:~~… fordi jeg har ikke tid.~~
Right:… fordi jeg ikke har tid.
In writing, ikke comes before the verb in a subordinate clause. In speech you’ll often hear the main-clause order after fordi, but don’t write it.
Wrong:~~Jeg ved, at han kommer ikke.~~
Right:Jeg ved, at han ikke kommer.
After at, ikke comes before the verb.
Wrong:~~Når jeg kommer hjem, jeg spiser.~~
Right:Når jeg kommer hjem, spiser jeg.
The clause is in position 1, so the main-clause verb comes next, before the subject.
Wrong:~~Når jeg var barn, boede vi på landet.~~
Right:Da jeg var barn, boede vi på landet.
One period in the past takes da.
Wrong:~~Da vi besøgte mormor, fik vi altid kage.~~
Right:Når vi besøgte mormor, fik vi altid kage.
It happened every time, so use når, even in the past. Da is for one time.
Wrong:~~Hvis jeg bliver 30, holder jeg en fest.~~
Right:Når jeg bliver 30, holder jeg en fest.
It will happen, so use når. Hvis means it might not.

Try it

Try itTest yourself on subordinate clauses

Check yourself

6 questions

1. “If the bus doesn’t come, we’ll walk.”

2. “I know that he never comes on time.”

3. “Because it was raining, we took the bus.”

4. “When we were in Skagen, it rained.” (one trip)

5. “When I turn 30, I’ll have a party.”

6. “a friend who doesn’t drink coffee”

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