Choosing the next task | Learn Danish in English

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Use Choosing the next task to practice Danish conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

Hvad skal vi gøre nu?

VEH SKEL vee GUR-uh NOO? What should we do now?

Lad os begynde med den korte liste.

LA-th ohss beh-GUHN-uh mehth dehn KOR-duh LESS-duh. Let's start with the short list.

Skal vi gøre den færdig, før vi gennemgår filen?

SKEL vee GUR-uh dehn FEHR-dee, FUHR vee GEH-nəm-GOH FEE-lən? Should we finish it before reviewing the file?

Vi kan hurtigt komme igennem den, hvis vi deler arbejdet.

Vee ken HOOR-dlee KUM-uh ee-GEH-nəm dehn, vess vee DAY-luh AH-bye-thuh. We can get through it quickly if we split the work.

Så tager jeg den første del.

SOH TAY-uh yigh dehn FUHR-stuh DAYL. Then I'll take the first part.

Jeg tager mig af resten.

Yigh TAY-uh mye eh RESS-dən. I'll handle the rest.

Derefter kan vi se på det, der er uklart.

DAY-ehf-duh ken vee SAY poh deht, DAIR ehr oo-KLAHRT. After that, we can review anything unclear.

Jeg åbner filen, når listen er færdig.

Yigh OH-bnuh FEE-lən, NAWR LESS-dən ehr FEHR-dee. I'll open the file when the list is done.

Word by Word

Hvad “Hvad” means “what” in the question “Hvad skal vi gøre nu?”. It asks which action the speakers should take. Use it at the beginning of a question when asking about a thing or action.

skal “skal” expresses “should” in “Hvad skal vi gøre nu?” and “Skal vi gøre den færdig”. It comes before “gøre” to ask about the recommended or intended action. This is useful when discussing what people should do next.

vi “vi” means “we” and refers to the speaker together with at least one other person. In this dialogue it is used in “skal vi gøre”, “vi kan”, and “vi deler”. Use it as the subject when a group performs the action.

gøre “gøre” means “do” in “Hvad skal vi gøre nu?” and “Skal vi gøre den færdig”. It follows “skal” in these questions. Use “gøre” when asking or talking about carrying out an action.

nu “nu” means “now” in “Hvad skal vi gøre nu?”. It places the question in the present moment. Use it when deciding what to do at this point in a conversation or task.

Lad “Lad” helps form the suggestion “Lad os begynde med den korte liste”, meaning “Let’s start with the short list”. Together with “os”, it invites the other person to do something with the speaker. Use “Lad os” to make a joint suggestion.

os “os” means “us” in the suggestion “Lad os begynde med den korte liste”. It includes the speaker and the person or people being addressed. Use it after “Lad” when suggesting a shared action.

begynde “begynde” means “begin” or “start” in “Lad os begynde med den korte liste”. It names the action being suggested. The reusable pattern “begynde med” introduces the thing or task that is the starting point.

med “med” means “with” in “begynde med den korte liste”. It connects the action of beginning to the first task or item. Use “begynde med” when saying what to start with.

den “den” means “the” in “den korte liste” and “it” in “gøre den færdig”. Before the noun phrase it identifies the list; before “færdig” it refers back to the list. Its meaning depends on its exact place in the sentence.

korte “korte” means “short” in the phrase “den korte liste”. It describes the list that the speakers choose as their starting point. Use it before “liste” in this noun phrase when describing its length.

liste “liste” means “list” in “den korte liste”. It is the task the speakers decide to start with and divide between them. Use it after an adjective when referring to a list with a particular description.

færdig “færdig” means “finished” or “done” in “gøre den færdig” and “listen er færdig”. In the first phrase it describes completing the list; in the second it describes the list’s completed state. Use “er færdig” to say that something is done.

før “før” means “before” in “før vi gennemgår filen”. It introduces the action that must wait until the list is finished. Use “før” before a clause when one action happens earlier than another.

gennemgår “gennemgår” means “reviews” or “goes through” in “vi gennemgår filen”. It describes examining the file after the list is finished. Use it with an object such as “filen” when discussing a file or material that needs review.

filen “filen” means “the file” in “gennemgår filen” and “åbner filen”. It refers to the specific file the speakers plan to review. Use it after an action verb when opening or reviewing that file.

kan “kan” means “can” in “Vi kan hurtigt komme igennem den”. It expresses that the speakers are able to complete the task. It comes before the following action, such as “komme” in this sentence.

hurtigt “hurtigt” means “quickly” in “kan hurtigt komme igennem den”. It describes the speed at which the speakers expect to get through the list. Use it with an action when saying that something will happen in little time.

komme “komme” contributes the idea of getting in the expression “komme igennem den”. The whole expression means getting through or completing the list, rather than simply arriving. Use “komme igennem” with the object of the task being completed.

igennem “igennem” means “through” in “komme igennem den”. Together with “komme”, it describes progressing through the list until it is completed. Use it in this construction when talking about finishing a task or set of items.

hvis “hvis” means “if” in “hvis vi deler arbejdet”. It introduces the condition that makes getting through the list quickly possible. Use it before a condition clause when explaining what must happen for a result.

deler “deler” means “split” in “vi deler arbejdet”. It describes the speakers assigning parts of the work to different people. Use it with the thing being divided, such as “arbejdet” here.

arbejdet “arbejdet” means “the work” in “vi deler arbejdet”. It is the task that the speakers plan to divide between them. Use it after an action such as “deler” when referring to the work being shared.

Så “Så” means “then” in “Så tager jeg den første del”. It marks the next decision or consequence after agreeing to split the work. Use it to introduce what someone will do next.

tager “tager” means “take” in “tager jeg den første del” and contributes to “tager mig af resten”, meaning “handle the rest”. The exact meaning comes from the surrounding expression: taking a part or taking care of something. Use it when assigning responsibility for a task.

jeg “jeg” means “I” and identifies the speaker who accepts a task. In “Så tager jeg den første del”, it follows “tager” because the sentence begins with “Så”. Use it as the subject when saying what you will do.

første “første” means “first” in “den første del”. It identifies the part that comes at the beginning of the divided work. Use it before a noun when specifying its order.

del “del” means “part” in “den første del”. It refers to one section of the work that the speaker agrees to take. Use it with an ordinal such as “første” when dividing something into sections.

mig “mig” means “me” in “tager mig af resten”. It refers back to the speaker inside the expression for taking care of something. Use it in this expression when saying that you will handle a task or responsibility.

af “af” is part of the expression “tager mig af resten”, which means “handle the rest” or “take care of the rest”. It connects the responsibility-taking expression to the thing being handled. Preserve the full pattern “tager mig af” when reusing it.

resten “resten” means “the rest” in “tager mig af resten”. It refers to everything remaining after the first part has been assigned. Use it when responsibility is being divided and one person accepts what remains.

Derefter “Derefter” means “after that” in “Derefter kan vi se på det, der er uklart”. It points to the action that follows the division of the work. Use it to connect a later step to something already mentioned.

se “se” means “see” in “se på det, der er uklart”. Together with “på”, the expression means to look at or review something. Use “se på” when directing attention to an item that needs examination.

på “på” is part of “se på det, der er uklart”, where the whole expression means “look at” or “review”. It directs attention toward the thing being examined. Use it after “se” in this construction.

det “det” means “it” in “se på det” and means “that which” in “det, der er uklart”. In both places it points to something being examined, especially the unclear parts. Use the exact surrounding phrase to determine its role.

der “der” introduces the clause “der er uklart” inside “det, der er uklart”. It identifies which thing is unclear. Use it after “det” when adding information about the thing being referred to.

er “er” means “is” in “der er uklart” and “listen er færdig”. It links the subject to a description or state. Use it in expressions such as “er færdig” when describing the condition of something.

uklart “uklart” means “unclear” in “det, der er uklart”. It describes the parts that the speakers still need to examine. Use it after “er” when saying that something is not clear.

åbner “åbner” means “opens” in “Jeg åbner filen”. It states that the speaker will open the file after the list is finished. Use it with the object being opened, as in “åbner filen”.

når “når” means “when” in “når listen er færdig”. It introduces the time condition for opening the file. Use it before a clause that says when an action will happen.

listen “listen” means “the list” in “når listen er færdig”. It is the subject of the clause describing when the file will be opened. “Listen” is the definite form related to “liste”; use it when referring to this specific list.

Grammar Points

lad os + infinitiv

Lad os begynde nu.

LA-th ohss beh-GUHN-uh NOO

Let's start now.

Danish uses lad os + infinitive to suggest doing something together.

verb + adverb

Gennemgår filen hurtigt.

GEH-nəm-GOR FEE-lən HOOR-dlee

Review the file quickly.

hurtigt is an adverb here: it describes how the action happens, not the file.

Danish Vocabulary

begynde verb

beh-GUHN-uh start

Lad os begynde med den korte liste.

fil noun

FEEL file filen

Gender: common

Skal vi gøre den færdig, før vi gennemgår filen?

før conj

FUHR before

Skal vi gøre den færdig, før vi gennemgår filen?

gennemgå verb

GEH-nəm-GOH review gennemgår

Skal vi gøre den færdig, før vi gennemgår filen?

gøre verb

GUR-uh do

Hvad skal vi gøre nu?

gøre færdig phrase

GUR-uh FEHR-dee finish gøre den færdig

Skal vi gøre den færdig, før vi gennemgår filen.

hvad pron

VEH what

Hvad skal vi gøre nu?

kort adj

KORT short korte

Lad os begynde med den korte liste.

lad os phrase

LA-th ohss let's

Lad os begynde med den korte liste.

liste noun

LESS-duh list listen

Gender: common

Lad os begynde med den korte liste.

nu adv

NOO now

Hvad skal vi gøre nu?

vi pron

vee we

Hvad skal vi gøre nu?

Quiz

Word Order

Arrange the words in the correct order.

What should we do now?

Show Answer

Hvad skal vi gøre nu?

Then I'll take the first part.

Show Answer

Så tager jeg den første del.

I'll handle the rest.

Show Answer

Jeg tager mig af resten.

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

what

Show Answer

hvad

list

Show Answer

listen

short

Show Answer

korte

start

Show Answer

begynde