Preparing for a Meeting | Learn Danish in English

About This Lesson

Use Preparing for a Meeting to practice Danish conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

Er mødenoterne klare?

air MUH-thuh-NOH-duh-nuh KLAIR-uh? Are the meeting notes ready?

De ligger på mit skrivebord.

dee LAY-uh paw mit SGREE-vuh-bor. They are on my desk.

Er der en kopi til mig?

air dair en koh-PEE till my? Is there a copy for me?

Her er en.

hair air en. Here is one.

Hvad skal vi tale om i dag?

veh skell vee TAY-luh om ee DAY? What are we discussing today?

Vi skal tale om den nye plan.

vee skell TAY-luh om den NOO-uh PLEN. We will discuss the new plan.

Lad mig læse noterne, før vi begynder.

lay my LAY-suh NOH-duh-nuh, fur vee buh-GURN-uh. Let me read the notes before we start.

Tag et minut, før vi begynder.

tay ed mee-NOOD, fur vee buh-GURN-uh. Take a minute before we begin.

Word by Word

Er “Er” means “are” in “Er mødenoterne klare?” and forms a question about whether the notes are ready. It is used before the subject in this question pattern: “Er …?” You can use it when checking a state or condition, such as whether something is ready.

mødenoterne “Mødenoterne” means “the meeting notes” in this dialogue. The ending “-ne” marks the definite plural form, referring to the specific notes for the meeting. Use it for notes connected with a meeting, for example in “Jeg læser mødenoterne” as a new example.

klare “Klare” means “ready” in “Er mødenoterne klare?” and describes the condition of the meeting notes. It agrees with the plural subject “mødenoterne” in this sentence. Use it after “Er” when asking whether something is ready.

De “De” means “they” in “De ligger på mit skrivebord” and refers back to the meeting notes. It is the subject of the sentence and comes before “ligger.” Use it to refer to several previously mentioned things.

ligger “Ligger” says that the notes are located on the desk in “De ligger på mit skrivebord.” With things that are in a resting or stationary position, it is used with a location such as “på mit skrivebord.” Use this form when saying where something is lying or located.

på “På” means “on” in “på mit skrivebord,” showing the surface or location where the notes are. It is followed here by the place “mit skrivebord.” Use “på” when saying that something is on a surface or at a specified place.

mit “Mit” means “my” in “mit skrivebord,” showing that the desk belongs to or is associated with the speaker. It is placed directly before the neuter noun “skrivebord.” Use it before a neuter noun when identifying something as yours.

skrivebord “Skrivebord” means “desk” in “mit skrivebord.” Together with “mit,” it identifies the place where the notes are located. Use it after a possessive such as “mit” when talking about your desk.

der “Der” introduces the existence of something in “Er der en kopi til mig?” It is part of the question pattern “Er der …?” rather than naming the location of the copy. Use this pattern when asking whether something is available or present.

en “En” means “a” before the noun in “en kopi” and means “one” in “Her er en.” In “en kopi,” it introduces one copy; in “Her er en,” it stands alone because the noun is understood from the context. Use it before a common-gender noun or alone when referring to one such item.

kopi “Kopi” means “copy” in “en kopi til mig.” It names the item being requested, and “en” comes before it. Use it with “en” when asking for or referring to one copy.

til “Til” means “for” in “en kopi til mig,” identifying the person who should receive the copy. It is followed here by “mig,” the person concerned. Use “til” to show that something is intended for someone.

mig “Mig” means “me” in “til mig,” referring to the speaker as the recipient of the copy. It follows the preposition “til” in this expression. Use it after “til” when saying that something is for you.

Her “Her” means “here” in “Her er en,” pointing out that the copy is present at the speaker’s location. It comes at the beginning to draw attention to the item being offered. Use it when presenting or pointing out something nearby.

Hvad “Hvad” means “what” in “Hvad skal vi tale om i dag?” and asks for the subject of the discussion. It appears at the beginning of this question. Use it to ask which thing or topic is meant.

skal “Skal” expresses what the speakers are going to do in “Hvad skal vi tale om i dag?” and “Vi skal tale om den nye plan.” It is followed by “tale,” so the pattern is “skal” plus an action. Use it to talk about a planned or expected activity.

vi “Vi” means “we” in “Hvad skal vi tale om i dag?” and “Vi skal tale om den nye plan.” It refers to the speaker and at least one other person. Use it as the subject when describing something that you do together.

tale “Tale” means “talk” or “discuss” in “Vi skal tale om den nye plan.” It follows “skal” and is followed by “om” plus the topic. Use the pattern “skal tale om …” when saying what you are going to discuss.

om “Om” means “about” in “tale om den nye plan,” introducing the topic of the discussion. It comes after “tale” and before the topic. Use “tale om” followed by the subject you want to discuss.

i “I” means “in” as part of the time expression “i dag.” Together, “i dag” means “today.” Use “i” in this expression when placing an activity on the current day.

dag “Dag” means “day” in the fixed expression “i dag,” which means “today.” The word appears with “i” rather than alone in this dialogue. Use “i dag” when talking about what is happening today.

den “Den” means “the” in “den nye plan,” referring to a specific plan. It comes before the adjective “nye” and the noun “plan.” Use it when pointing to a particular common-gender noun.

nye “Nye” means “new” in “den nye plan,” describing the specific plan being discussed. It appears between “den” and “plan.” Use it before a noun when describing something as new in this expression pattern.

plan “Plan” means “plan” in “den nye plan,” the topic that the speakers will discuss. It follows the article and adjective in the noun phrase. Use it after “tale om” when naming a plan as the discussion topic.

Lad “Lad” means “let” in “Lad mig læse noterne,” where the speaker asks to be allowed to read the notes. It is followed by “mig” and the action “læse.” Use “Lad mig …” when asking to do something yourself.

læse “Læse” means “read” in “Lad mig læse noterne.” It names the action the speaker wants to do and follows “Lad mig.” Use it before the object you want to read, as in “Lad mig læse beskeden” as a new example.

noterne “Noterne” means “the notes” in “Lad mig læse noterne,” referring to the meeting notes already mentioned. The ending “-ne” marks the definite plural form. Use it when referring to specific notes that are known from the context.

før “Før” means “before” in “før vi begynder,” introducing the time before the meeting starts. It is followed by the clause “vi begynder.” Use “før” to connect an action with an earlier time or event.

begynder “Begynder” means “begin” or “start” in “før vi begynder,” referring to the start of the meeting or discussion. It follows the subject “vi” in the clause. Use it when saying that an activity is about to start or has its starting point.

Tag “Tag” means “take” in “Tag et minut,” telling the other person to allow or spend a minute. It is followed by the time expression “et minut.” Use “Tag …” at the beginning of a direct instruction, such as “Tag en pause” as a new example.

et “Et” means “a” in “et minut,” introducing one minute as the amount of time. It comes before the neuter noun “minut.” Use it before a neuter noun when referring to one unspecified item or unit.

minut “Minut” means “minute” in “Tag et minut.” Together, “et minut” names the short amount of time the person should take before the meeting begins. Use it after “et” when expressing a duration of one minute.

Grammar Points

til + pronomen

til mig

till my

for me

The preposition til is used before the object pronoun mig to express “for me”.

ligge i nutid: ligger

ligger her

LAY-uh hair

is lying here / is located here

The verb ligge changes to ligger in the present tense.

Danish Vocabulary

her adv

hair here

Her er en.

hvad pron

veh what

Hvad skal vi tale om i dag?

i dag adv

ee DAY today

Hvad skal vi tale om i dag?

klar adj

KLAIR-uh ready klare

Er mødenoterne klare?

kopi noun

koh-PEE copy

Gender: common

Er der en kopi til mig?

ligge verb

LAY-uh to lie; to be located ligger

De ligger på mit skrivebord.

mig pron

my me

Er der en kopi til mig?

mødenote noun

MUH-thuh-NOH-duh meeting note mødenoterne

Gender: common

Er mødenoterne klare?

ny adj

NOO new nye

Gender: common

Vi skal tale om den nye plan.

skrivebord noun

SGREE-vuh-bor desk

Gender: neuter

De ligger på mit skrivebord.

tale om phrase

TAY-luh om to discuss; to talk about

Vi skal tale om den nye plan.

til prep

till for; to

Er der en kopi til mig?

Quiz

Word Order

Arrange the words in the correct order.

Are the meeting notes ready?

Show Answer

Er mødenoterne klare?

They are on my desk.

Show Answer

De ligger på mit skrivebord.

Is there a copy for me?

Show Answer

Er der en kopi til mig?

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

meeting note

Show Answer

mødenoterne

what

Show Answer

hvad

desk

Show Answer

skrivebord

ready

Show Answer

klare