Page:A simplified grammar of the Danish language.djvu/60

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danish grammar.

Selv, selv samme, 'self-same,' may be added to personal and demonstrative pronouns: selv may also be used adverbially; as, Selv min Mand så hende falde, 'My husband even saw her fall.'

Begge, 'both,' is used before the numeral to, 'two;' as, begge to, 'both of them.'

Sig, reflective pronoun, 'himself,' etc., and sin, reflective possessive pronoun, 'his,' etc., were originally used to refer to plural as well as to singular nouns; but during the present and past century they have, especially among Danes, been more strictly limited to the singular; dem and deres being substituted for them when the subject is in the plural; as, De tog deres Hatte, og gik, 'They took their (own) hats and went away.' This practice is regarded by modern grammarians as an objectionable deviation from the genuine Northern rule, due to German influences. The Norwegians more generally follow the older and more correct usage, as do the Swedes.

Verbs. (Udsagnsord.)

In a primary, simple sentence, the verb follows the noun or pronoun which governs it; as, Jeg så Manden som kom ind ad Dören, 'I saw the man who came in at the door.'

In a secondary or subjective sentence, the verb precedes the noun or pronoun by which it is governed; as, Hvis Manden kommer ind, går jeg ud, 'If the man comes in, I shall go out;' Går Barnet op ad Treppen, falder han ned, 'If the child should go up the stairs, he will fall down.'

In interrogative sentences the verb, as in English, pre-