While adjectives are used to qualify nouns, an adverb can modify a verb, an adjective or even another adverb.
The following example shows a Danish phrase where the adverb modifies the verb:
Remark about the direction of the arrows: These diagrams represent the syntactic structure of a sentence. The arrows go from head word to dependent word.
The next example shows a Danish phrase in which the adverb modifies the adjective:
Finally, here is an example of a Danish phrase where the adverb modifies another adverb:
Adverbs of frequency are used to describe how often an action or an event occurs. Here is a list of the most common Danish adverbs of frequency:
Danish adverb | translation |
---|---|
altid | always |
stadig | constantly, still |
ofte | frequently |
tit | often |
sædvanligvis | usually, normally |
indimellem | sometimes, once in a while |
sjældent | rarely, seldom |
aldrig | never |
The Danish adverb “altid” resembles the Swedish adverb “alltid” except for a small spelling difference. In fact, Danish and Swedish are fairly similar languages. On a related note, see this guide to Swedish adverbs.
Adverbs of degree indicate “how much” or “to what extent” an adjective or another adverb applies. Here is a list of the most common Danish adverbs of degree:
Danish adverb | translation |
---|---|
fuldstændig | completely, utterly |
helt | completely, quite |
særdeles | particularly, a lot |
især | especially, particularly |
vældig | very, mighty |
meget | much, very |
temmelig | quite, rather, fairly |
nok | enough, sufficiently |
mest | mostly, most |
nogenlunde | somewhat, to some degree, approximately |
næsten | nearly, almost |
lidt | slightly, little |
næppe | barely |
The Danish adverb “fuldstændig” is derived from the German adverb “vollständig” and they share the same meaning. There are in fact a number of linguistic similarities between Danish and German.
Adverbs of place describe “where” an event or an action occurs. Here is a list of the most common Danish adverbs of place:
Danish adverb | translation |
---|---|
der | there, at that place |
her | here, in this place |
derfra | from there |
herfra | from here |
inde | inside |
derinde | in there |
ud | out |
ind | in |
overalt | everywhere |
udenfor | outside |
herinde | in here |
udefra | from the outside |
nær | near, nearby |
indenfor | indoors, inside, within |
derude | out there |
væk | away |
bort | away |
Adverbs of time describe “when” an event or an action occurs. Here is a list of the most common Danish adverbs of time:
Danish adverb | translation |
---|---|
nu | now |
endnu | still, yet |
allerede | already |
før | before, prior |
snart | soon |
tidligere | sooner, earlier |
endelig | finally |
efter | later, afterwards |
umiddelbart | immediately |
straks | immediately, right away |
nylig | recently |
forleden | the other day |
engang | one time, one day |
tidlig | early |
herefter | from now on, hereafter |
efterhånden | over time, gradually |
samtidigt | at the same time, simultaneously |
hidtil | so far, up to now |
længe | for a long time |
nogensinde | ever, at some time |
bagefter | subsequently, afterwards |
The Danish adverb “allerede” is identical to the Norwegian adverb “allerede”. In fact, Danish and Norwegian are fairly similar languages.
Adverbs of manner describe “how” an event or an action occurs. Here is a list of the most common Danish adverbs of manner:
Danish adverb | translation |
---|---|
så | so, to the extent that |
godt | well |
gerne | gladly |
bevidst | knowingly, deliberately, consciously |
offentligt | publicly, in public |
delvis | partly, partially |
hurtigt | quickly |
tæt | closely |
pludselig | suddenly |
let | easily |
sagtens | easily |
dårligt | badly |
pludseligt | suddenly, all of a sudden |
The Danish adverb “pludselig” resembles the Dutch adverb “plotseling”. Although Danish is closer to German than it is to Dutch, there are some similarities between Danish and Duch.
Adverbs of probability describe “how likely” something is. Here is a list of the most common Danish adverbs of probability:
Danish adverb | translation |
---|---|
bestemt | definitely, certainly |
sikkert | certainly |
måske | perhaps, maybe |
åbenbart | apparently |
sandsynligvis | apparently, likely, probably |
The Danish adverb “sandsynligvis” is formed by ading the suffix “-vis” to the Danish adjective “sandsynlig”. This pattern of word formation can be noticed in several other Danish adverbs, for example: “nødvendigvis”, “tilfældigvis” and “eksempelvis”.
Conjunctive adverbs serve an important grammatical purpose as they indicate the relationship between thoughts. The relationship can be “cause and effect”, “contrast”, etc.. Here is a list of the most common Danish conjunctive adverbs:
Danish adverb | translation |
---|---|
også | also, as well |
derfor | therefore |
dog | however |
samtidig | also, furthermore, simultaneously |
således | thus |
dermed | thus |
tværtimod | on the contrary |
desuden | furthermore, moreover, in addition |
alligevel | anyway, nevertheless, either way |
derefter | thereafter, afterwards |
ligeledes | likewise |
imidlertid | however, meanwhile |
derved | thus, thereby |
hellere | instead, rather |
imens | meanwhile |
derpå | thereafter, then |
følgelig | consequently, accordingly |
derimod | but, however, on the contrary |
Here is a list of some more Danish adverbs which are commonly used:
Danish adverb | translation |
---|---|
ikke | not |
hvor | where |
lige | just, recently |
videre | further |
kun | only |
bare | just |
sammen | together |
hvordan | how |
igen | again |
frem | ahead, forward, forth |
tilbage | back |
først | first of all, firstly |
sådan | such, in this way |
rundt | around, round |
netop | precisely, exactly |
selvfølgelig | of course, naturally |
ude | out |
på | on |
desværre | regrettably, unfortunately |
direkte | directly |
hvorfor | why |
mindst | least |
naturligvis | of course, naturally |
herunder | under here, below |
egentlig | actually |
helst | preferably |
dels | partly |
mindre | less |
endda | even |
gratis | free of charge |
hverken | neither |
generelt | generally, in general |
simpelthen | simply |
utrolig | incredibly |
rent | purely |
vidt | widely, broadly |
eksempelvis | for example |
fint | fine |
overhovedet | at all, whatsoever |
omkring | about, around |
udelukkende | solely, exclusively |
nede | down |
forbi | finished, past |
nødvendigvis | necessarily |
præcis | precisely, exactly |
hvornår | when |
imellem | between |
uanset | regardless, whatever |
forhåbentlig | hopefully |
omvendt | on the other hand, conversely |
forkert | wrongly, erroneously |
tilsyneladende | seemingly, apparently |
nedad | downwards, downhill |
henholdsvis | respectively |
snarere | more accurately, more like, rather |
selvsagt | of course, needless to say |
billigt | cheaply |
ligesom | sort of, kind of |
forresten | by the way, incidentally |
overvejende | predominantly |
atter | again |
sjovt | funny |
skriftligt | in writing |
væsentligt | significantly |
tilfældigvis | coincidentally, by chance |
Learning a language requires becoming familiar with a range of vocabulary words. In linguistics, vocabulary words are classified according to their grammatical function.
These categories of words, which are also referred to as “parts of speech”, include nouns, pronouns, adjectives, adverbs, etc..
We have other articles focusing on Danish pronouns and Danish prepositions.
This guide focused on Danish adverbs which are one of the main “parts of speech”. Mastering these adverbs is one of the steps towards reaching fluency in the Danish language.
To learn more Danish vocabulary, see this list of the 1000 most common Danish words.