Using a shared meeting room | Learn Danish in English

Danish lesson set in a contemporary Copenhagen everyday setting: In a shared meeting room, two adults talk about using a table and leaving the room clean for the next group..

EN → DA / Level: A1

About This Lesson

Use Using a shared meeting room to practice Danish conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

A

Kan vi bruge det fælles mødelokale?

kan vee BROO-uh deh FEH-less MUR-deh-loh-KAH-leh Can we use the shared meeting room?
B

Det kan I, men hold det pænt for andre.

deh kan EE, men HOHL deh pent for AHN-druh You can, but keep it tidy for other people.
A

Er dette bord ledigt?

air DEH-duh bohrd LEH-thee Is this table free?
B

Det er ledigt nu.

deh air LEH-thee noo It is available now.
A

Jeg lægger min taske ved væggen.

yai LEG-uh men TASK-uh veh VEH-gun I will put my bag by the wall.
B

Hold venligst bordet frit.

HOHL VEN-list BOHR-duh FREED Please keep the table clear.
A

Vi efterlader rummet rent, når vi er færdige.

vee EF-ter-LAY-uh ROOM-uh RENT, nohr vee air FAIR-thee-uh We will leave the room clean when we finish.
B

Det hjælper den næste gruppe.

deh YEL-per den NEH-stuh GROH-buh That helps the next group.

Word by Word

Kan In “Kan vi bruge det fælles mødelokale?” “Kan” asks whether the group is allowed or able to use the room. It comes before “vi” in this question. Use “Kan vi bruge ...?” when asking permission to use something.
vi In “Kan vi bruge det fælles mødelokale?” “vi” means “we” and refers to the people asking together. It is the subject before “bruge”. Use “vi” when speaking about yourself together with one or more other people.
bruge In “Kan vi bruge det fælles mødelokale?” “bruge” means “use”. It follows “Kan vi” in the request. Use “Kan vi bruge ...?” with the thing or place you want to use.
det In “det fælles mødelokale”, “det” means “the” and identifies the particular meeting room. In “Det kan I”, it refers back to using the room. Use it in these kinds of phrases when referring to a known thing or action.
fælles In “det fælles mødelokale”, “fælles” means shared or common. It describes a meeting room used by more than one group. Put “fælles” before a noun when describing a shared place or resource.
mødelokale “mødelokale” means “meeting room” in “det fælles mødelokale”. It names the place the speakers want to use. Use it when talking about a room for meetings.
I In “Det kan I”, “I” means “you” when speaking to more than one person. It is the group being given permission. Use “I” when addressing a group directly.
men In “Det kan I, men hold det pænt for andre”, “men” means “but” and introduces a condition or limitation. It connects permission with the request that follows. Use “men” to contrast two parts of what you are saying.
hold In “hold det pænt”, “hold” gives the instruction to keep something in a certain condition. It is followed by “det” and “pænt” here. Use “hold” with an object and a describing word when giving a practical instruction.
pænt In “hold det pænt”, “pænt” means tidy or neat. It describes how the shared room should be kept for other people. Use “hold det pænt” when asking someone to leave a place or thing neat.
for In “pænt for andre”, “for” means “for” and shows who the tidy condition is intended to help or consider. It is followed by “andre”. Use “for” before a person or group when describing who benefits from an action.
andre In “for andre”, “andre” means other people. It refers to people who may use the shared room after the speakers. Use “andre” when referring to other people without naming them.
Er In “Er dette bord ledigt?” “Er” asks about the table’s current condition or availability. It comes first because this is a yes-or-no question. Use “Er ...?” to check whether something is in a particular state.
dette In “dette bord”, “dette” means “this” and points to the table being considered. It comes directly before “bord”. Use “dette” before a noun when identifying a particular nearby or relevant thing.
bord “bord” means “table” in “dette bord”. It names the furniture whose availability is being checked. The same word appears in “bordet” when the speakers refer to the table as a specific known object.
ledigt In “Er dette bord ledigt?” and “Det er ledigt nu”, “ledigt” means free or available. Here it says that the table is not currently occupied. Use “er ledigt” when checking whether a place or resource is available.
nu In “Det er ledigt nu”, “nu” means “now” and limits the availability to the present time. It appears at the end of this statement. Use “nu” when saying that a situation applies at the current moment.
Jeg In “Jeg lægger min taske ved væggen”, “Jeg” means “I” and identifies the person placing the bag. It is the subject at the start of the sentence. Use “Jeg” when stating what you yourself are doing.
lægger In “Jeg lægger min taske ved væggen”, “lægger” means put or place. It describes placing the bag in a location and is followed by “min taske” and “ved væggen”. Use “lægger ... ved ...” to say that you place something next to a location.
min In “min taske”, “min” means “my” and shows that the bag belongs to the speaker. It comes before “taske”. Use “min” before an item you identify as your own.
taske “taske” means “bag” in “min taske”. It is the object being placed by the wall. Use it when talking about a bag you carry or put somewhere.
ved In “ved væggen”, “ved” means “by” or “next to” and gives the bag’s location. It is followed by “væggen”. Use “ved” before a place or object to say that something is nearby.
væggen In “ved væggen”, “væggen” means “the wall”. It is the location next to which the speaker places the bag. Use this kind of phrase to describe where an object is placed in a room.
venligst In “Hold venligst bordet frit”, “venligst” means “please” and makes the instruction more polite. It appears after “Hold” in this request. Use “venligst” in polite instructions or requests.
bordet In “Hold venligst bordet frit”, “bordet” means “the table” and identifies the table already being discussed. It is the object that should be kept clear. Use “bordet” when referring to a specific table known in the situation.
frit In “bordet frit”, “frit” means clear of objects or items. It describes the condition the table should remain in. Use “hold ... frit” when asking someone to keep a surface clear.
efterlader In “Vi efterlader rummet rent”, “efterlader” means leave behind. It says that the speakers will leave the room in a clean condition when they finish. Use “efterlader” with the thing being left and a description of its condition.
rummet In “Vi efterlader rummet rent”, “rummet” means “the room”. It is the shared meeting room that the speakers will leave. Use “rummet” when referring to a specific room already understood in the situation.
rent In “efterlader rummet rent”, “rent” means clean and describes the room’s condition when the speakers leave it. It is part of the pattern “efterlader rummet rent”. Use this pattern when promising to leave a place clean.
når In “når vi er færdige”, “når” means “when” and introduces the time or condition for leaving the room. It is followed by the clause “vi er færdige”. Use “når” before a clause that says when something happens.
færdige In “når vi er færdige”, “færdige” means finished or done. It says that the group has completed its work in the room. Use “er færdige” when saying that people have finished an activity.
hjælper In “Det hjælper den næste gruppe”, “hjælper” means helps. It explains that leaving the room clean benefits the people who use it next. Use “hjælper” with a person or group that receives help.
den In “den næste gruppe”, “den” means “the” and identifies the particular group being discussed. It comes before “næste gruppe”. Use “den” in a phrase that points to a specific known group or thing.
næste In “den næste gruppe”, “næste” means “next” and identifies the group that follows the current one. It comes before “gruppe”. Use “den næste” when referring to the person or group that comes after the present one.
gruppe “gruppe” means “group” in “den næste gruppe”. It refers to the people who will use the meeting room after the speakers. Use it when talking about several people considered together.

Grammar Points

ved + bestemt substantiv

ved væggen

veh VEH-gun

by the wall

Efter ved står her det bestemte substantiv væggen: ved væggen betyder “by the wall”.

fælles + substantiv

fælles mødelokale

FEH-less MUR-deh-loh-KAH-leh

shared meeting room

Adjektivet fælles står foran substantivet og har samme form i ental og flertal.

Danish Vocabulary

andre pron
AHN-druh other people; others

for andre

bord noun
bohrd table
Gender
neuter

dette bord

bruge verb
BROO-uh use

Kan vi bruge det fælles mødelokale?

fælles adj
FEH-less shared; common

det fælles mødelokale

hold verb
HOHL keep; hold

Hold det pænt for andre.

ledigt adj
LEH-thee free; available
Gender
neuter

Er dette bord ledigt?

lægger verb
LEG-uh put; place

Jeg lægger min taske ved væggen.

mødelokale noun
MUR-deh-loh-KAH-leh meeting room
Gender
neuter

det fælles mødelokale

nu adv
noo now

Det er ledigt nu.

pænt adj
pent tidy; neat
Gender
neuter

Hold det pænt for andre.

taske noun
TASK-uh bag
Gender
common

min taske

ved prep
veh by; next to

ved væggen

Quiz

Word Order

Arrange the words in the correct order.

Can we use the shared meeting room?

Show AnswerKan vi bruge det fælles mødelokale?

Is this table free?

Show AnswerEr dette bord ledigt?

It is available now.

Show AnswerDet er ledigt nu.

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

other people; others

Show Answerandre

use

Show Answerbruge

meeting room

Show Answermødelokale

free; available

Show Answerledigt