Causative Constructions in Danish

Overview

Causative Constructions (Kausative Konstruktioner) is an important grammar concept at the B2 level in Danish. Expressing that someone causes something: 'få nogen til at' (get someone to), 'lade nogen' (let someone), 'bede nogen om at' (ask someone to).

At the upper-intermediate level, understanding this concept allows you to express yourself with greater accuracy and nuance. This grammar point builds on foundations you have established at earlier levels and connects to several related areas of Danish grammar.

As you work through this topic, pay attention to how it functions in authentic Danish texts and conversations. The patterns you learn here will become more natural with regular practice and exposure to the language.

How It Works

Core rules

Expressing that someone causes something: 'få nogen til at' (get someone to), 'lade nogen' (let someone), 'bede nogen om at' (ask someone to).

Key patterns

Danish	English
Jeg fik ham til at grine.	I made him laugh.
Lad hende komme ind.	Let her come in.
Vi bad dem om at vente.	We asked them to wait.
Hun lod børnene lege.	She let the children play.

Three main causative patterns

Pattern	Structure	Example	Translation
Get someone to	fa + nogen + til at + infinitive	Jeg fik ham til at grine.	I made him laugh.
Let someone	lade + nogen + infinitive (no at)	Lad hende komme ind.	Let her come in.
Ask someone to	bede + nogen + om at + infinitive	Vi bad dem om at vente.	We asked them to wait.

Past tense forms

Present	Past	Example
far...til at	fik...til at	Jeg fik ham til at hjaelpe.
lader	lod	Hun lod dem ga.
beder...om at	bad...om at	Vi bad dem om at komme.

Examples in Context

Danish	English	Note
Jeg fik ham til at grine.	I made him laugh.
Lad hende komme ind.	Let her come in.
Vi bad dem om at vente.	We asked them to wait.
Hun lod børnene lege.	She let the children play.

Common Mistakes

Transferring English patterns directly

• Wrong: Using English word order or structure when expressing causative constructions in Danish.
• Right: Follow Danish-specific rules for this grammar point.
• Why: Danish and English handle causative constructions differently. Learning the Danish pattern as its own system prevents interference from English.

Neglecting subordinate clause word order

• Wrong: Keeping main clause word order when causative constructions appears in a subordinate clause.
• Right: Remember that adverbs like ikke move before the verb in subordinate clauses.
• Why: The main clause/subordinate clause word order distinction is fundamental in Danish and affects how all grammar structures are used.

Overgeneralizing rules

• Wrong: Applying one pattern to all cases of causative constructions without considering exceptions.
• Right: Learn both the regular patterns and the common exceptions.
• Why: Danish grammar has regular patterns but also important exceptions, particularly with frequently used words.

Practice Tips

• Analyze authentic texts. Read Danish newspaper articles or literature and identify all instances of causative constructions. Note the contexts and nuances of each usage.
• Write formal and informal versions. Practice expressing the same idea using causative constructions in different registers: a text message to a friend versus an email to a colleague.
• Record yourself speaking. Talk about a topic for two minutes, focusing on using causative constructions correctly. Listen back and note areas for improvement.

Related Concepts

• Conditional Mood - Parent concept