A2 Danish GrammarPresent Perfect Tense
Master the Danish present perfect tense (perfektum/førnutid) to connect past actions to the present. Learn how to form it with 'har' or 'er' plus the past participle, and understand when to use it for experiences, recent events, and completed actions with present relevance.
1Formation with 'har'
The Danish present perfect is formed with the auxiliary verb 'har' (have) plus the past participle. Most verbs use 'har'. The past participle typically ends in -et for regular verbs (Group 1 and 2) or -t for Group 3. The participle does not change for person or number.
Present Perfect with 'har'
| Infinitive | Past Participle | Present Perfect |
|---|---|---|
| at spise (to eat) | spist | har spist |
| at arbejde (to work) | arbejdet | har arbejdet |
| at købe (to buy) | købt | har købt |
| at lære (to learn) | lært | har lært |
Examples
Jeg har spist morgenmad.
I have eaten breakfast.
Regular verb: spise → spist
Hun har arbejdet hele dagen.
She has worked all day.
Regular verb: arbejde → arbejdet
Vi har købt en ny bil.
We have bought a new car.
Regular verb: købe → købt
De har lært dansk i to år.
They have learned Danish for two years.
Regular verb: lære → lært
2Formation with 'er'
Some verbs of movement and change of state use 'er' (is/am/are) instead of 'har' as the auxiliary. This includes verbs like 'komme' (come), 'gå' (go/walk), 'rejse' (travel), 'blive' (become), and 'dø' (die). Think of these as verbs describing a change in position or condition.
Present Perfect with 'er'
| Infinitive | Past Participle | Present Perfect |
|---|---|---|
| at komme (to come) | kommet | er kommet |
| at gå (to go) | gået | er gået |
| at rejse (to travel) | rejst | er rejst |
| at blive (to become) | blevet | er blevet |
Examples
Han er kommet hjem.
He has come home.
Movement verb: uses 'er'
De er gået i skole.
They have gone to school.
Movement verb: gå → gået
Vi er rejst til Italien.
We have traveled to Italy.
Movement verb: rejse → rejst
Hun er blevet læge.
She has become a doctor.
Change of state: blive → blevet
3Irregular Past Participles
Many common Danish verbs have irregular past participles that must be memorized. These often involve vowel changes. Irregular verbs can use either 'har' or 'er' depending on their meaning.
Common Irregular Participles
| Infinitive | Past Participle | Example |
|---|---|---|
| at skrive (write) | skrevet | har skrevet |
| at se (see) | set | har set |
| at være (be) | været | har været |
| at gøre (do) | gjort | har gjort |
Examples
Jeg har skrevet en bog.
I have written a book.
Irregular: skrive → skrevet
Har du set filmen?
Have you seen the movie?
Irregular: se → set
Vi har været i Paris.
We have been to Paris.
Irregular: være → været
Hvad har du gjort?
What have you done?
Irregular: gøre → gjort
4Usage and Word Order
Use the present perfect for: experiences (Jeg har besøgt Japan), recently completed actions (Hun har lige spist), and past actions with present relevance (Jeg har glemt mine nøgler). In main clauses, the auxiliary comes second (V2). In questions, the auxiliary comes first. 'Ikke' goes after the auxiliary.
Word Order Patterns
| Type | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Statement | S + har/er + V | Jeg har spist |
| Question | Har/er + S + V? | Har du spist? |
| Negative | S + har/er + ikke + V | Jeg har ikke spist |
| With adverb | S + har/er + adv + V | Jeg har altid elsket |
Examples
Har du nogensinde prøvet sushi?
Have you ever tried sushi?
Question with 'nogensinde' (ever)
Jeg har ikke set ham i dag.
I have not seen him today.
'ikke' after auxiliary
Hun har altid boet i København.
She has always lived in Copenhagen.
Adverb 'altid' before participle
Hvorfor er du kommet så sent?
Why have you come so late?
Question with 'er' auxiliary