Al, alt or hel, helt, hele singular

Hel, helt, hele is describing something concrete and heterogeneous: An object that may be divided into non-identical parts. The closest English words would be whole, entire or unbroken.

N-words unknown formN-words known formT-words unknown formT-words known form
En hel banan (A whole banana) hele bananen (the whole banana) et helt land (a whole nation) hele landet (the whole nation)

Al, alt is describing something abstract (and therefore homogeneous) that can't be divided into different parts, for example fluids, materials or constructed abstractions as traffic.

N-words general formN-words known formT-words general formT-words known form
Al mad (All food) al maden (all the food) alt smør (all butter) alt smørret (all the butter)

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Teenagerne havde drukket øllet, både det tyske og det danske.

Teenagerne havde drukket en kasse øl.

Jeg havde sagt, at de godt måtte tage en øl, men de drak kassen

Teenagerne havde spist maden, der var hverken kød, sovs eller kartofler tilbage.

Teenagerne havde spist et kilo peanuts. De kunne da godt have ladet nogle ligge til mig.

Der var øl og chips over huset.