154. Some words are in Danish used without an article, while the English language requires the article with the same words; Ex.: Verden the world, Verden er stor the world is great (but i Kunstverdenen in the world of art), Hojesteret the Supreme Court, Rektor the Principal (of the School).
Furthermore may be noted that the article is never affixed to a noun that is qualified by a genitive: Kongens Slot the palace of the king, Naboens Hits the house of the neighbor. But if a complement (af of, with a noun) is used instead of genitive, then the article is used: Ejeren af Huset or Husets Ejer the owner of the house.
Sometimes the præpositive article may be omitted with superlatives: förste Gang the first time, överste Stokværk the top floor, med störste Fornöjelse with the greatest pleasure. But in all these cases the article may also be used.
155. The indefinite article has the form:
| common gender. | neuter. |
| en | et |
Ex.: en Man(d) a man, et Hus a house.
Note 1. The indefinite article was originally the numeral en one.
Note 2. The indefinite article always has its place before the noun and also before a qualifying adjective: en Mand, en stor Mand. But when the noun is connected with an interrogative word or an adjective qualified by the adverb saa so, and for too, then the article is placed after the interrogative word, or adjective; Ex.: hvilken en Mand what a man? hvor stort et Hus what a big house! saa ungt et Menneske such a youth! for tyk en Hals too thick a neck. In connection with mangen the article has its place after that word but before another adjective: mangen en Mand many a man, mangen en tapper Mand many a brave man. In connection with saadan such, the article may be placed before or after that word: saadan en Mand or en saadan Mand. In connection with a comparative and jo—desto the article is placed between the comparative and the noun; Ex.: jo tykkere en Hals han har, desto snarere skal den
