Comparing jackets before buying | Learn Danish in English

Danish lesson set in a contemporary Copenhagen everyday setting: In a clothing shop, two adults compare similar jackets by fabric, warmth, and fit before deciding..

EN → DA / Level: A2

About This Lesson

Use Comparing jackets before buying to practice Danish conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

A

De to jakker ser meget ens ud.

dee toh YAH-guh sair MAY-uhth ens ooth. These two jackets look very similar.
B

Lad os sammenligne stoffet og pasformen.

LAH ohs SAM-un-LEE-uh STAW-fut oh PAS-faw-mun. Let's compare the fabric and fit.
A

Den her føles let.

den hair FUH-lus layd. This one feels light.
A

Stoffet virker tyndt.

STAW-fut VAIR-guh TUHNT. The fabric seems thin.
B

Den anden føles mere solid og varmere.

den AH-nun FUH-lus MAY-uh so-LÉETH uh VAH-muh-uh. The other one feels sturdier and warmer.
A

Det kunne være bedre til hverdagsbrug.

deht KAW-nuh VAIR-uh BED-thruh teel VAIR-dahs-broo. That might be better for everyday use.
B

Prøv den først, og se, hvordan den føles.

PRUH den FURST, uh sair voh-DAN den FUH-lus. Try it on first and see how it feels.
A

Jeg vil prøve dem begge, før jeg beslutter mig.

YAI vel PRUH-vuh dem BEH-guh, fur YAI beh-SLOO-duh my. I will try both before I decide.
B

Det burde gøre valget lettere.

deht BOO-uh-thuh KUH-uh VEL-guh LEH-duh. That should make the choice easier.

Word by Word

De In “De to jakker”, “De” means “these” and points to the jackets being discussed. It is used here before the number and noun to identify the two items.
to In “De to jakker”, “to” means “two” and specifies the number of jackets. Numbers such as this are placed before the noun they describe.
jakker “jakker” means “jackets” in “De to jakker”. It is the plural form of “jakke”, and here it names the two garments being compared.
ser In “ser meget ens ud”, “ser” contributes the meaning “look” or “appear”. Together with “ud”, it describes how the jackets appear.
meget In “ser meget ens ud”, “meget” means “very” and strengthens the description “ens”. It is placed before the word or expression it intensifies.
ens In “ser meget ens ud”, “ens” means “similar” or “alike”. It describes the two jackets as having a very similar appearance.
ud In “ser meget ens ud”, “ud” completes the expression meaning “look” or “appear”; it does not mean “out” by itself here. This expression is useful when describing how something looks.
Lad In “Lad os sammenligne stoffet og pasformen”, “Lad” helps make a suggestion. Together with “os”, it introduces an action that the speakers suggest doing together.
os In “Lad os sammenligne stoffet og pasformen”, “os” means “us”. With “Lad”, it forms a suggestion meaning “let’s” do the following action.
sammenligne In “Lad os sammenligne stoffet og pasformen”, “sammenligne” means “compare”. It is used for examining two or more things together, such as “stoffet” and “pasformen”.
stoffet “stoffet” means “the fabric” in “sammenligne stoffet og pasformen”. It is the definite form of “stof” and names the material being compared.
og In “stoffet og pasformen”, “og” means “and” and joins the two things being compared. It links items in a list or combination.
pasformen “pasformen” means “the fit” in “sammenligne stoffet og pasformen”. It is the definite form of “pasform” and refers to how the jacket fits.
Den In “Den her føles let” and “Den anden føles mere solid og varmere”, “Den” means “this one” or “the other one” and refers to a jacket. Its precise meaning depends on the following word: “Den her” selects one jacket, while “Den anden” contrasts it with the first.
her In “Den her føles let”, “her” means “here” and helps identify the nearby jacket as “this one”. “Den her” is useful when selecting one item from several visible items.
føles In “Den her føles let” and “Den anden føles mere solid og varmere”, “føles” describes the sensation or impression produced by a jacket. It is followed by descriptions such as “let” or “mere solid”.
let In “Den her føles let”, “let” means “light”, referring to the jacket’s weight or feel. It describes the jacket after “føles”.
virker In “Stoffet virker tyndt”, “virker” means “seems” or “appears”. It presents “tyndt” as an impression about the fabric rather than a confirmed measurement.
tyndt In “Stoffet virker tyndt”, “tyndt” means “thin” and describes the fabric. It is the form used after “virker” to give the fabric this description.
anden In “Den anden føles mere solid og varmere”, “anden” means “other” and identifies the second jacket in contrast with the first. “Den anden” is a useful expression for choosing the remaining item in a pair.
mere In “mere solid”, “mere” means “more” and marks a comparison. It shows that one jacket is sturdier than the other.
solid In “Den anden føles mere solid”, “solid” means “sturdy” or “solid”. It describes the jacket’s stronger or more substantial feel.
varmere In “mere solid og varmere”, “varmere” means “warmer” and compares the warmth of the two jackets. It is used here as a description of the other jacket.
Det In “Det kunne være bedre til hverdagsbrug”, “Det” refers to the jacket or option just discussed and means “that” or “it”. In “Det burde gøre valget lettere”, it refers to the preceding idea of trying both jackets.
kunne In “Det kunne være bedre til hverdagsbrug”, “kunne” expresses a possibility, meaning “could” or “might”. It is followed by “være” and presents the opinion cautiously.
være In “Det kunne være bedre til hverdagsbrug”, “være” means “be”. Together with “kunne”, it links the jacket or option to the description “bedre”.
bedre In “bedre til hverdagsbrug”, “bedre” means “better” and compares this option with the other one. It can be used with “til” to describe what something is better for.
til In “bedre til hverdagsbrug”, “til” means “for” and connects the jacket with its intended use. The pattern “til” followed by a use or purpose is common in this meaning.
hverdagsbrug “hverdagsbrug” means “everyday use” in “til hverdagsbrug”. It names the practical purpose for which the jacket may be suitable.
Prøv In “Prøv den først”, “Prøv” means “try” and gives a direct suggestion or instruction. It is followed by the item to be tried, “den”.
først In “Prøv den først”, “først” means “first” and says that trying the jacket should happen before the next action. It can indicate the order of actions.
se In “se, hvordan den føles”, “se” means “see” or “find out”. It introduces the information the speaker wants the listener to observe, namely how the jacket feels.
hvordan In “se, hvordan den føles”, “hvordan” means “how” and introduces a clause describing the jacket’s feel. It is used before the situation or quality the listener should check.
Jeg In “Jeg vil prøve dem begge”, “Jeg” means “I” and identifies the speaker as the person who will try the jackets. It is the subject placed before “vil”.
vil In “Jeg vil prøve dem begge”, “vil” expresses the speaker’s intention, meaning “will” or “want to”. It is followed by the action “prøve”.
prøve In “Jeg vil prøve dem begge”, “prøve” means “try”. It follows “vil” and takes the objects “dem begge”, meaning both jackets.
dem In “prøve dem begge”, “dem” means “them” and refers to the two jackets. It is the object of “prøve”.
begge In “prøve dem begge”, “begge” means “both” and emphasizes that the speaker will try the two jackets together as a complete pair. It follows the object “dem” here.
før In “før jeg beslutter mig”, “før” means “before” and introduces the action that must happen first. It connects the decision with the earlier action of trying both jackets.
beslutter In “før jeg beslutter mig”, “beslutter” contributes the meaning “decide”. Together with “mig”, the expression means that the speaker makes a decision.
mig In “beslutter mig”, “mig” refers back to the speaker, “I”. It is part of the expression used here for deciding.
burde In “Det burde gøre valget lettere”, “burde” means “should” and expresses an expected result. It is followed by “gøre” to say what the earlier action is expected to achieve.
gøre In “gøre valget lettere”, “gøre” means “make” and describes causing a change in the choice. The pattern places the affected object, “valget”, after “gøre”, followed by its new description.
valget “valget” means “the choice” in “gøre valget lettere”. It is the definite form of “valg” and refers to the decision between the jackets.
lettere In “gøre valget lettere”, “lettere” means “easier”. It describes the result that the choice is expected to have after trying both jackets.

Grammar Points

Adjektiv + -ere

varm → varmere; bedre; lettere

VAHM → VAH-muh-uh; BEH-thruh; LEH-duh

warm → warmer; better; easier

Danish forms many comparative adjectives with -ere. Some forms, such as bedre, are irregular.

Neutrumform af adjektiv

tynd → tyndt

TUHND → TUHNT

thin → thin (neuter form)

Adjectives can change form in the neuter: tynd becomes tyndt.

Danish Vocabulary

anden det
AH-nun other
ens adj
ens similar; alike
føle verb
FUH-luh to feel føles
jakke noun
YAH-guh jacket jakker
let adj
layd light
pasform noun
PAS-fawrm fit pasformen
sammenligne verb
SAM-un-LEE-uh to compare
se verb
sair to look; to see ser
solid adj
soh-LÉETH sturdy; solid
stof noun
STAWF fabric; material stoffet
tynd adj
TUHND thin tyndt
Gender
neuter
virke verb
VAIR-guh to seem virker

Quiz

Word Order

Arrange the words in the correct order.

Let's compare the fabric and fit.

Show AnswerLad os sammenligne stoffet og pasformen.

This one feels light.

Show AnswerDen her føles let.

The fabric seems thin.

Show AnswerStoffet virker tyndt.

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

to compare

Show Answersammenligne

fit

Show Answerpasformen

to seem

Show Answervirker

fabric; material

Show Answerstoffet