Starting with a Short Sentence | Learn Danish in English

About This Lesson

Use Starting with a Short Sentence to practice Danish conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

Det er lettere for mig med enkle ord.

deh air LEH-duh-uh fohr my meh ENG-gluh oh Simple words are easier for me.

Vi kan begynde med en kort sætning.

vee kan beh-GURN-uh meh en koht SED-ning We can start with a short sentence.

Det hjælper mig med at forstå.

deh YEL-buh my meh ehd foh-STOH That helps me understand.

Læs denne linje efter mig.

LESS DEN-uh LEEN-yuh EF-tuh my Read this line after me.

Jeg er klar til at prøve.

yai air KLAH teel uh PRUR-vuh I am ready to try.

Tag dig god tid, og sig det tydeligt.

TAY dye goh TEETH, oh say deh TOO-thuh-lee Take your time and say it clearly.

Word by Word

Det Here, "Det" introduces the statement that something is easier: "Det er lettere for mig med enkle ord." It refers broadly to the situation or use of simple words rather than to a named object. A reusable pattern is "Det er ..." when stating that something is a certain way.

er In "Det er lettere for mig med enkle ord", "er" means is and links the subject "Det" with the description "lettere". It is used in the common pattern "Det er + description". A new example is "Det er godt."

lettere "lettere" means easier here, describing the use of simple words as easier for the speaker. It appears after "er" in "Det er lettere". A reusable pattern is "Det er lettere med ..." when one option makes something easier.

for In "lettere for mig", "for" marks the person for whom something is easier. The reusable pattern is "for + person", as in "for mig". A new example is "Det er vigtigt for mig."

mig "mig" means me in "for mig", identifying the person who finds it easier. It follows the preposition "for" in this expression. A reusable pattern is "for mig" when giving your own viewpoint or experience.

med In "med enkle ord", "med" means with or by using and connects the statement to the simple words. It appears directly before "enkle ord". A reusable pattern is "med + noun" for the thing used or involved.

enkle "enkle" describes the words as simple in the exact phrase "enkle ord". It comes before the noun it describes. A reusable pattern is an adjective such as "enkle" followed by the noun it modifies.

ord "ord" means words in "enkle ord", referring to the language units being used. It follows the describing word "enkle". A reusable pattern is "[description] ord" when talking about the kind of words someone uses.

Vi "Vi" means we and identifies the speakers as the people who can begin. It is the subject at the start of "Vi kan begynde med en kort sætning." A reusable pattern is "Vi kan + verb" for suggesting what a group can do.

kan "kan" means can and expresses ability or possibility in "Vi kan begynde". It is followed by the verb "begynde" in this sentence. A reusable pattern is "kan + verb" when saying that someone is able or allowed to do something.

begynde "begynde" means start or begin in "Vi kan begynde med en kort sætning." It follows "kan" and names the action the speakers can take. A reusable pattern is "begynde med + noun" for saying what to start with.

en "en" is the indefinite article a before "kort sætning". It introduces one sentence that has not been specified before. A reusable pattern is "en + noun" when introducing a non-specific noun of this type.

kort "kort" means short and describes "sætning" in "en kort sætning." It appears between the article "en" and the noun. A reusable pattern is "en + adjective + noun" for describing one thing.

sætning "sætning" means sentence in "en kort sætning." It is the thing the speakers suggest beginning with. A reusable pattern is "begynde med en sætning" when starting with a sentence.

hjælper "hjælper" means helps in "Det hjælper mig med at forstå." It says that something provides help to the speaker, who is marked by "mig". A reusable pattern is "Det hjælper mig med at + verb" for explaining what helps you do.

at Here, "at" introduces the action "forstå" after "med" in "med at forstå." It helps form the expression for what the speaker is helped to do. A reusable pattern is "med at + verb" after "hjælper".

forstå "forstå" means understand in "at forstå." It names the action that the speaker is helped with. A reusable pattern is "hjælper mig med at forstå" when saying that something helps you understand.

Læs "Læs" means read here and gives the instruction "Læs denne linje efter mig." It is used to ask another person to read the line. A reusable pattern is "Læs + object" for telling someone to read something.

denne "denne" means this and points to the specific line in "denne linje." It comes before the noun it identifies. A reusable pattern is "denne + noun" when referring to one particular thing.

linje "linje" means line in "denne linje." It identifies the text that the learner is asked to read. A reusable pattern is "Læs denne linje" when directing someone to read a particular line.

efter In "efter mig", "efter" means after and shows that the learner should read following the other speaker. The reusable pattern is "efter + person" when one person follows another person's action. A new example is "Læs efter læreren."

Jeg "Jeg" means I and identifies the speaker in "Jeg er klar til at prøve." It is the subject at the beginning of the sentence. A reusable pattern is "Jeg er + description" for describing your current state.

klar "klar" means ready in "Jeg er klar til at prøve." It describes the speaker's readiness for the next action. A reusable pattern is "være klar til at + verb" when saying that you are ready to do something.

til In "klar til at prøve", "til" connects the idea of being ready with the action that follows. The reusable pattern is "klar til at + verb". A new example is "Jeg er klar til at læse."

prøve "prøve" means try in "at prøve." It names the action the speaker is ready to do. A reusable pattern is "klar til at prøve" when saying that you are ready to make an attempt.

Tag dig god tid "Tag dig god tid" means take your time as a whole expression. "Tag" gives the instruction to take, "dig" refers to you, and "god tid" means sufficient or ample time; together they tell the listener not to hurry. Use this expression when encouraging someone during a task or practice.

og "og" means and and joins the instruction "Tag dig god tid" with the next instruction "sig det tydeligt." It connects two actions or pieces of advice. A reusable pattern is "X, og Y" for giving two linked instructions.

sig "sig" means say in the instruction "sig det tydeligt." It tells the listener to produce the words aloud. A reusable pattern is "sig + object" when telling someone what to say.

tydeligt "tydeligt" means clearly and describes how the listener should say it in "sig det tydeligt." It comes after the object "det" and gives information about the manner of speaking. A reusable pattern is "sig det + adverb" when asking someone to say something in a particular way.

Grammar Points

Imperativ: verbets stamme

Læs denne linje.

LESS DEN-uh LEEN-yuh

Read this line.

I dansk dannes imperativ ofte med verbets stamme uden subjekt: læse → Læs.

Tag dig god tid

Tag dig god tid.

TAY dye goh TEETH

Take your time.

Dette er et fast udtryk, hvor dig viser, hvem der tager sig god tid.

Danish Vocabulary

begynde verb

beh-GURN-uh to start

Vi kan begynde med en kort sætning.

denne det

DEN-uh this

Læs denne linje efter mig.

efter prep

EF-tuh after

Læs denne linje efter mig.

enkel adj

ENG-gul simple enkle

Det er lettere for mig med enkle ord.

forstå verb

foh-STOH to understand

Det hjælper mig med at forstå.

hjælpe verb

YEL-buh to help hjælper

Det hjælper mig med at forstå.

kort adj

koht short

Vi kan begynde med en kort sætning.

let adj

lehd easy lettere

Det er lettere for mig med enkle ord.

linje noun

LEEN-yuh line

Læs denne linje efter mig.

læse verb

LESS-uh to read Læs

Læs denne linje efter mig.

ord noun

oh words

Det er lettere for mig med enkle ord.

sætning noun

SED-ning sentence

Vi kan begynde med en kort sætning.

Quiz

Word Order

Arrange the words in the correct order.

That helps me understand.

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Det hjælper mig med at forstå.

Read this line after me.

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Læs denne linje efter mig.

I am ready to try.

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Jeg er klar til at prøve.

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

to start

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begynde

to help

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hjælper

simple

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enkle

sentence

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sætning