Using a Notebook in Class | Learn Danish in English

Danish lesson set in a contemporary Copenhagen everyday setting: In a language classroom, one person forgets a notebook, uses paper, writes new words, and checks them after class..

EN → DA / Level: A1

About This Lesson

Use Using a Notebook in Class to practice Danish conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

A

Jeg glemte at tage min notesbog med.

yai GLEM-duh uh TEH min NOH-duhs-boh meh. I forgot to bring my notebook.
B

Du kan bruge dette papir.

doo kan BROO-uh DEH-duh puh-PEER. You can use this paper.
A

Tak. Jeg vil skrive de nye ord.

tahk. yai vil SKREE-vuh dee NOO-uh ohr. Thank you. I want to write the new words.
B

God idé. Jeg vil også skrive dem.

GOH ee-TEH. yai vil OSS-uh SKREE-vuh dem. Good idea. I will write them too.
A

Kan vi tjekke dem efter undervisningen?

kan vee CHEH-guh dem EF-duh OON-deh-VEESS-ning-en? Can we check them after class?
B

Vi kan læse dem sammen.

vee kan LEH-suh dem SAM-un. We can read them together.

Word by Word

Jeg “Jeg” means “I” in “Jeg glemte at tage min notesbog med.” It identifies the person who forgot something. Use it before a verb when talking about yourself, as in “Jeg vil skrive de nye ord.”
glemte “glemte” means “forgot” in “Jeg glemte at tage min notesbog med.” It describes forgetting a past action, namely bringing the notebook. A reusable pattern is “Jeg glemte at …” followed by an action.
at “at” introduces the action after “glemte” in “Jeg glemte at tage min notesbog med.” It connects the verb meaning “forgot” with the action that was forgotten. Use “at” before an infinitive in patterns such as “glemte at tage …”.
tage “tage” contributes the action “bring” in “tage min notesbog med.” With “med,” the expression means to take something along. Use the pattern “tage [something] med” when bringing an item with you.
min “min” means “my” in “min notesbog.” It shows that the notebook belongs to or is associated with the speaker. Use it directly before a singular noun, as in “min notesbog.”
notesbog “notesbog” means “notebook” in “min notesbog.” It names the item the speaker forgot to bring. Use it after a possessive such as “min” when referring to a notebook.
med “med” means “along” in “tage min notesbog med.” It adds the idea that the notebook is brought together with the speaker. Use it at the end of the pattern “tage [something] med.”
Du “Du” means “you” in “Du kan bruge dette papir.” It addresses the other person directly. Use it before a verb when speaking to one person, as in “Du kan …”.
kan “kan” means “can” or “be able to” in “Du kan bruge dette papir” and “Kan vi tjekke dem efter undervisningen?” It expresses ability or possibility. Use it before another verb, as in “kan bruge” or “kan tjekke”.
bruge “bruge” means “use” in “Du kan bruge dette papir.” It describes using the offered paper for the class task. Use it after “kan” in the pattern “kan bruge [something].”
dette “dette” means “this” in “dette papir.” It points to a particular piece of paper that is available or being offered. Use it directly before the noun it identifies, as in “dette papir.”
papir “papir” means “paper” in “dette papir.” It names the material or sheet that the learner can use instead of the notebook. Use it after a word such as “dette” when referring to a specific piece of paper.
Tak “Tak” means “thank you” in the short reply “Tak.” It expresses gratitude for the offered paper. Use it as a simple polite response when someone helps or offers something.
vil “vil” marks the speaker’s intention in “Jeg vil skrive de nye ord” and “Jeg vil også skrive dem.” Depending on context, it can express “want to” or an intended “will” action. Use it before another verb, as in “vil skrive …”.
skrive “skrive” means “write” in “skrive de nye ord” and “skrive dem.” It describes putting the new words on paper. Use it after “vil” and before the thing being written, as in “vil skrive de nye ord.”
de “de” is the “the” element in “de nye ord.” It helps identify the particular plural words being discussed. Use it before an adjective and a plural noun when referring to specific items, as in “de nye ord.”
nye “nye” means “new” in “de nye ord.” It describes the words as newly encountered or newly learned in the class. Use it before the noun it describes, as in “nye ord.”
ord “ord” means “words” in “de nye ord.” It identifies the language items that the speakers want to write, check, and read. Use it after a describing word or determiner, as in “de nye ord.”
God “God” means “good” in “God idé.” It positively evaluates the suggestion to write the new words. Use it before “idé” in the common expression “God idé” when approving a suggestion.
idé “idé” means “idea” in “God idé.” Together with “God,” it expresses approval of the suggestion. Use “God idé” as a short response when you think someone’s suggestion is good.
også “også” means “also” or “too” in “Jeg vil også skrive dem.” It shows that the second speaker intends to do the same writing. It commonly appears before the main verb phrase or before the element being added, as here before “skrive.”
dem “dem” means “them” in “skrive dem,” “tjekke dem,” and “læse dem.” It refers back to the new words, so the speakers do not need to repeat the noun. Use it after a verb when referring to those words as the object of the action.
vi “vi” means “we” in “Kan vi tjekke dem efter undervisningen?” and “Vi kan læse dem sammen.” It refers to the two people acting together. Use it before the verb when talking about yourself and another person or group.
tjekke “tjekke” means “check” in “Kan vi tjekke dem efter undervisningen?” It describes reviewing the words after class. Use it after “kan” in the question pattern “Kan vi tjekke [something]?”.
efter “efter” means “after” in “efter undervisningen.” It places the checking later than the class. Use it before the time or event that comes afterward, as in “efter undervisningen.”
undervisningen “undervisningen” means “the class” or “the instruction” in “efter undervisningen.” It refers to the class session that has not yet finished when the question is asked. Use it after “efter” when referring to the class as the relevant time.
læse “læse” means “read” in “Vi kan læse dem sammen.” It describes reviewing the words by reading them. Use it after “kan” and before the object, as in “kan læse dem.”
sammen “sammen” means “together” in “Vi kan læse dem sammen.” It shows that the speakers will read the words jointly. Place it after the action when describing people doing something together, as in “læse dem sammen.”

Grammar Points

tage ... med

Jeg tager papir med.

yai TEH-uh puh-PEER meh.

I bring paper along.

The fixed expression tage ... med means “bring along.” The object comes between tage and med.

også

Jeg bruger også papir.

yai BROO-uh OSS-uh puh-PEER.

I also use paper.

også usually comes after the conjugated verb in a simple sentence.

Danish Vocabulary

bruge verb
BROO-uh use

Du kan bruge dette papir.

efter prep
EF-duh after

efter undervisningen

glemme verb
KLEM-uh forget glemte

Jeg glemte at tage min notesbog med.

god adj
GOH good
Gender
common

God idé.

idé noun
ee-TEH idea
Gender
common

God idé.

notesbog noun
NOH-duhs-boh notebook
Gender
common

min notesbog

også adv
OSS-uh also; too

Jeg vil også skrive dem.

ord noun
ohr words
Gender
neuter

de nye ord

papir noun
puh-PEER paper
Gender
neuter

dette papir

skrive verb
SKREE-vuh write

Jeg vil skrive de nye ord.

tage med phrase
TEH meh bring tage ... med

Jeg glemte at tage min notesbog med.

tjekke verb
CHEH-guh check

Kan vi tjekke dem efter undervisningen?

Quiz

Word Order

Arrange the words in the correct order.

You can use this paper.

Show AnswerDu kan bruge dette papir.

Can we check them after class?

Show AnswerKan vi tjekke dem efter undervisningen?

We can read them together.

Show AnswerVi kan læse dem sammen.

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

forget

Show Answerglemte

paper

Show Answerpapir

notebook

Show Answernotesbog

use

Show Answerbruge