Prepositions of place
Place prepositions: i, på, til, ved, hos, fra
Can use place prepositions correctly
Look at these examples. Can you spot the grammar pattern?
Jeg bor i København, men jeg arbejder på Amager.
I live in Copenhagen, but I work on Amager.
Bogen ligger på bordet ved vinduet.
The book is lying on the table by the window.
Jeg kommer fra Danmark, og jeg skal til Norge i morgen.
I come from Denmark, and I'm going to Norway tomorrow.
Pay attention to the highlighted parts. What do they have in common?
i (in), på (on/at), til (to), ved (by), hos (at someone's), fra (from).
Danish prepositions don't always match English ones.
🇬🇧 English: 'at work' = 'på arbejde', 'at home' = 'hjemme'. 'In' ≠ always 'i'.
🇷🇺 Russian: в/на distinction is similar to i/på! в городе = i byen,
Common Error Patterns
Confusing 'i' and 'på'
'I' for enclosed spaces, cities, countries. 'På' for surfaces, islands, institutions (på universitetet).
Using 'i' for movement instead of 'til'
'Til' for movement toward: 'Jeg går til skole', not *'Jeg går i skole' (which means 'attend school').
Jeg bor i København, men jeg arbejder på Amager.
I live in Copenhagen, but I work on Amager.
'I' for cities (i København). 'På' for islands (på Amager). Important distinction!
Bogen ligger på bordet ved vinduet.
The book is lying on the table by the window.
'På' = on (surface). 'Ved' = by/near. 'Ligger' = lies (position verb).
Jeg kommer fra Danmark, og jeg skal til Norge i morgen.
I come from Denmark, and I'm going to Norway tomorrow.
'Fra' = from (origin). 'Til' = to (direction/movement). 'I morgen' = tomorrow.
Practice in course
Apply this grammar in A1 course exercises