The short way to correct present-tense -r
Present-tense -r (in Danish, 'nutids-r') is the ’r’ that you add to a verb in present tense in Danish. It can be hard to hear, because the -r ending is silent in many Danish verbs. For example, you cannot hear the difference between ’lære’ and ’lærer’.
Adding a correct present-tense -r is particularly difficult with these Danish verbs
It is particularly words that end in -re that can be tricky.
- Lære
- Køre
- Høre
- Vurdere
- Kompensere
Luckily, help is at hand. Here are four tips to help you figure out if a verb needs a present-tense -r.
1. The rule of replacement can help you
We will start with the rule of replacement. Let's try this example:
In this example, it's hard to know if you need to add a present-tense -r because you cannot hear it.
To make it easier, you can replace the verb with another verb - one where you can clearly hear the present-tense -r.
For example, try replacing ’bære’ with ’skrive’. Suddenly, you can hear the difference between the two sentences.
Even though it is nonsensical to write on your mother's bag, you can at least easily hear that the sentence sounds correct with the present-tense -r. And it sounds completely wrong without it.
You can also try analysing the sentence in order to figure out whether you need to add a present-tense -r to the verb. We'll give you some tips on that now.
2. You must add a present-tense -r to a verb if it comes right after the subject
Look at the order of the words: When a verb comes right after the subject, then you need to add a present-tense -r to the verb.
3. You do NOT add a present-tense -r when the verb comes right after ’at’
Look at the order once again: If you have a sentence in which the verb comes right after the word ‘at’, then you do NOT add a present-tense -r to the verb.
4. You do NOT add a present-tense -r when the verb comes right after another verb
Are there two verbs? If the verb comes right after another verb, then you do NOT add a present-tense -r.
Now you are ready for our present-tense -r quiz. The quiz will ask you many good questions about present-tense -r. Try to see how many you can get right! Please note - the test is in Danish.
How did you do on the quiz? Don't worry if you didn't get all the questions right. Present-tense -r can be really difficult. It's hard for Danes too, and a study of spelling tests done by Danish school pupils in 2008 showed that the problem was the same in 1945 and in 1978. In other words, it hasn't got better with time!
When present-tense -r causes love trouble
Before you go, we have a funny story for you. The Danish newspaper Information has an agony column in which they answer questions from readers every week. And on 12 December 2020, they answered this question from a picky reader looking for love: How do I date someone who doesn't know how to use present-tense -r? You can read the answer here.