Talking about reading | Learn Danish in English

About This Lesson

Use Talking about reading to practice Danish conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

Hvad læser du?

vah LEH-suh doo? What are you reading?

Jeg læser en kort bog.

yai LEH-suh en kawrd BOHW. I am reading a short book.

Kan du lide historien?

kan doo LEE-thuh his-TOH-ee-en? Do you like the story?

Den er nem at følge.

den air nem ad FUHR-luh. It is easy to follow.

Hvor læser du normalt?

voh LEH-suh doo nor-MAHL? Where do you usually read?

Jeg læser normalt i et stille rum derhjemme.

yai LEH-suh nor-MAHL ee ed STEH-luh rohm dair-YEM-uh. I usually read in a quiet room at home.

Det lyder roligt.

deh LOO-thuh ROH-lee. That sounds calm.

Det hjælper mig med at nyde min fritid.

deh YEL-puh mai meh ad NOO-thuh min FREE-tee. It helps me enjoy my free time.

Word by Word

Hvad “Hvad” means “what” in the question “Hvad læser du?” It asks which thing the other person is reading. A reusable question pattern is “Hvad” followed by a verb and the person doing the action.

læser “læser” means “read” or “am reading” here, as in “Hvad læser du?” and “Jeg læser en kort bog.” It is the present form related to “læse” and is used for the reading activity in this dialogue. The pattern “Jeg læser” can introduce what someone is reading.

du “du” means “you” and refers to the person being asked about their reading. It appears in “Hvad læser du?” and “Kan du lide historien?” A reusable pattern is “du” after a question word or after “Kan” when asking about the listener.

Jeg “Jeg” means “I” and identifies the speaker in “Jeg læser en kort bog” and “Jeg læser normalt i et stille rum derhjemme.” It is used when the speaker describes their own reading habit. “Jeg læser” is a reusable way to say what you read or are reading.

en “en” is the indefinite article “a” before “kort bog” in “Jeg læser en kort bog.” It introduces one non-specific book. The reusable pattern is “en” plus a noun phrase such as “en kort bog”.

kort “kort” means “short” and describes the book in “en kort bog.” It comes before the noun it describes in this dialogue. A reusable pattern is “en kort” followed by a suitable noun.

bog “bog” means “book” in “en kort bog,” the thing being read. It is used after the article and adjective in that noun phrase. The phrase “læse en bog” is a reusable way to talk about reading a book.

Kan “Kan” means “can” in form, but in “Kan du lide historien?” it helps make a question about whether someone likes the story. It is the present form related to “kunne” and is followed here by “du” and the infinitive “lide.” The pattern “Kan du lide” asks whether the listener likes something.

lide “lide” means “like” in the question “Kan du lide historien?” It stays in this infinitive form after “Kan.” The reusable pattern is “Kan du lide” followed by the thing someone may like.

historien “historien” means “the story” in “Kan du lide historien?” It is the definite form related to “historie” and refers to the specific story being read. The phrase “lide historien” expresses liking that story.

Den “Den” means “it” in “Den er nem at følge” and refers back to “historien.” It is the subject of the sentence describing the story. A reusable pattern is “Den er” followed by a description of a previously mentioned thing.

er “er” means “is” in “Den er nem at følge.” It links “Den” with the description “nem at følge.” It is the present form related to “være,” and “Den er” is a reusable pattern for describing something already mentioned.

nem “nem” means “easy” in “Den er nem at følge,” describing the story as easy to follow. Its meaning belongs with the construction “nem at følge,” not with “nem” alone as a complete sentence. The pattern “nem at” can introduce an activity that is easy to do.

at “at” marks the infinitive in “nem at følge,” so “at følge” means “to follow.” It comes directly before the verb form “følge” in this construction. The reusable pattern is “at” plus a verb after an expression such as “nem.”

følge “følge” means “follow” in “Den er nem at følge,” referring to following the story. It is the infinitive form after “at.” The pattern “nem at følge” describes a story or explanation whose progress is easy to understand.

Hvor “Hvor” means “where” in the question “Hvor læser du normalt?” It asks about the place where the other person usually reads. A reusable question pattern is “Hvor” followed by an activity and the person doing it.

normalt “normalt” means “usually” or “normally” and describes a regular reading habit in “Hvor læser du normalt?” and “Jeg læser normalt i et stille rum derhjemme.” It shows that the statement concerns what generally happens, not a single occasion. It can be used with a verb to describe a usual routine.

i “i” means “in” and introduces the location “et stille rum” in “Jeg læser normalt i et stille rum derhjemme.” It is followed by a noun phrase that gives the place. The reusable pattern is “i” plus a location.

et “et” is the indefinite article “a” before “stille rum” in “i et stille rum.” It introduces one non-specific room. The phrase “et stille rum” is a reusable noun phrase for a quiet room.

stille “stille” means “quiet” and describes “rum” in “et stille rum.” It comes before the noun in this phrase. The reusable pattern is “et stille” followed by a suitable noun.

rum “rum” means “room” in “i et stille rum,” the place where the speaker usually reads. It follows the article and adjective in that noun phrase. The pattern “i et rum” can describe reading or another activity taking place in a room.

derhjemme “derhjemme” means “at home” in “Jeg læser normalt i et stille rum derhjemme.” It adds that the quiet room is located at the speaker’s home. This word can be used to state that an activity normally happens at home.

Det “Det” means “that” or “it” and points back to something already mentioned. In “Det lyder roligt,” it refers to the described reading situation, while in “Det hjælper mig med at nyde min fritid,” it refers to the reading activity. It is used as the subject when commenting on or describing that situation or activity.

lyder “lyder” means “sounds” in “Det lyder roligt,” expressing the impression created by what the other person has said. It is the present form related to “lyde.” The pattern “Det lyder” can introduce an impression followed by a description.

roligt “roligt” means “calm” in “Det lyder roligt,” describing how the situation sounds. It is the form used after “lyder” with “Det” in this sentence. The pattern “Det lyder roligt” gives a calm reaction to someone’s description.

hjælper “hjælper” means “helps” in “Det hjælper mig med at nyde min fritid.” It is the present form related to “hjælpe” and describes the benefit of reading. The reusable pattern is “hjælper” followed by a person and “med at” plus an activity.

mig “mig” means “me” in “Det hjælper mig med at nyde min fritid.” It identifies the person receiving the help. The reusable pattern is “hjælper mig med at” followed by the activity that becomes easier or possible.

med “med” means “with” in the construction “hjælper mig med at nyde min fritid.” Here it introduces the activity connected with the help, together with “at” and “nyde.” The reusable pattern is “hjælper [person] med at” plus a verb.

nyde “nyde” means “enjoy” in “nyde min fritid.” It is the infinitive after “med at” and names what the speaker is helped to do. The pattern “nyde” followed by something such as “min fritid” states what someone enjoys.

min “min” means “my” in “min fritid,” showing that the free time belongs to or is associated with the speaker. It comes directly before the noun it describes. The reusable pattern is “min” plus a noun for something connected with the speaker.

fritid “fritid” means “free time” in “nyde min fritid.” It is the time the speaker enjoys through reading. The phrase “nyde min fritid” is a reusable way to talk about enjoying one’s free time.

Grammar Points

Hvad + verb

Hvad læser?

vah LEH-suh

What do you read?

In Danish, a question word is followed directly by the verb; English usually needs “do.”

Subject + verb + normalt

Jeg læser normalt.

yai LEH-suh nor-MAHL

I usually read.

The adverb normalt commonly comes after the verb in a simple Danish sentence.

Danish Vocabulary

bog noun

BOHW book

Den pron

den it

følge verb

FUHR-luh follow

historien noun

his-TOH-ee-en the story

Hvad pron

vah what

Hvor adv

voh where

Jeg pron

yai I

kort adj

kawrd short

lide verb

LEE-thuh like

læser verb

LEH-suh read

nem adj

nem easy

normalt adv

nor-MAHL usually

Quiz

Word Order

Arrange the words in the correct order.

What are you reading?

Show Answer

Hvad læser du?

I am reading a short book.

Show Answer

Jeg læser en kort bog.

Do you like the story?

Show Answer

Kan du lide historien?

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

Show Answer

lide

what

Show Answer

Hvad

the story

Show Answer

historien

short

Show Answer

kort