Finding the Correct Platform | Learn Danish in English

Danish lesson set in a contemporary Copenhagen everyday setting: At a train station, two adults respond to a platform change and keep their tickets ready before boarding..

EN → DA / Level: A2

About This Lesson

Use Finding the Correct Platform to practice Danish conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

A

Hørte du meddelelsen lige før?

HUR-du meh-DAYL-sun LEE-uh FUR? Did you hear the announcement just now?
B

Toget kører fra en anden perron.

TOH-uh KUR-uh fra en AN-un puh-ROHN. The train is leaving from a different platform.
A

Tavlen siger, at vi skal bruge den anden perron i stedet.

TAH-wlun SEE-uh, eh vee skal BROO-uh den AN-un puh-ROHN ee steh. The board says we should use the other platform instead.
B

Så skal vi følge skiltene nu.

SAW skal vee FUHL-uh SHEEL-tuh-nuh noo. Then we should follow the signs now.
A

Har vi tid nok til at komme derhen?

HAH vee teed nok til eh KOM-uh dair-HEN? Do we have enough time to get there?
B

Det har vi, hvis vi går nu.

Deh hah vee, vis vee gawr noo. We do if we leave now.
A

Jeg holder min billet klar.

YAI HOL-uh min BEH-lut KLAH. I'll keep my ticket ready.
B

Hav den ved hånden; personalet tjekker den måske, før vi går om bord.

HEV den veh HOH-nun; per-soh-NAH-luhd CHEK-uh den MAY-skeh, fur vee gawr om BOHR. Keep it handy; staff may check it before we board.

Word by Word

Hørte “Hørte” means “heard” in the question “Hørte du meddelelsen lige før?”. It is the past form of “høre”, used to ask about something the listener heard recently. Use it when asking whether someone heard a sound or message.
du “du” means “you” and is the person being asked in “Hørte du meddelelsen lige før?”. It is the subject of the question and comes directly after “Hørte”. Use “du” when speaking to one person.
meddelelsen “meddelelsen” means “the announcement” in “Hørte du meddelelsen lige før?”. The form refers to a specific announcement at the station. Use it for a particular message or announcement that both people can identify.
lige “lige” contributes the meaning “just” in the time expression “lige før”. Together, “lige før” refers to a short time before now. Use this expression when asking about something that happened very recently.
før “før” means “before” in “lige før”, referring to an earlier time. Here it combines with “lige” to specify that the announcement happened shortly before the question. Use “før” when locating an event earlier than another time or event.
Toget “Toget” means “the train” in “Toget kører fra en anden perron.” The form identifies the particular train the speakers are waiting for. Use it when talking about a specific train in a travel situation.
kører “kører” means “is leaving” in “Toget kører fra en anden perron.” With a train as the subject and “fra” introducing a platform, it describes the train departing from that place. Use the pattern “X kører fra Y” to say where a vehicle departs.
fra “fra” means “from” in “kører fra en anden perron” and marks the train’s departure point. It commonly comes before a place or starting point. Use it when saying where someone or something comes or departs from.
en “en” means “a” before the noun “perron” in “en anden perron”. It introduces one non-specific platform that is different from the expected one. Use it before an appropriate singular common noun when introducing one item.
anden “anden” means “different” or “other” in “en anden perron”. It shows that the train uses a platform different from the one previously expected. Use “anden” before a noun when directing someone to an alternative item or place.
perron “perron” means “platform” in “en anden perron” and “den anden perron”. It names the station area where passengers wait for and board a train. Use it when giving or asking for train-platform information.
Tavlen “Tavlen” means “the board” in “Tavlen siger, at vi skal bruge den anden perron i stedet.” It refers to the station information board that displays the change. Use it when referring to a specific board or display containing information.
siger “siger” means “says” in “Tavlen siger, at vi skal bruge den anden perron i stedet.” Here it introduces information communicated by the board rather than spoken by a person. Use the pattern “X siger, at ...” when reporting what a person or sign communicates.
at “at” means “that” in “siger, at vi skal bruge den anden perron”. It introduces the clause containing the information given by the board. Use it after verbs such as “siger” when reporting the content of a statement.
vi “vi” means “we” in “vi skal bruge den anden perron” and “skal vi følge skiltene”. It refers to the two speakers acting together. Use “vi” as the subject when describing an action done by yourself and at least one other person.
skal “skal” expresses what the speakers should or need to do in “vi skal bruge den anden perron” and “skal vi følge skiltene”. It is followed by the infinitive “bruge” or “følge”. Use “skal + infinitive” for an obligation, instruction, or planned action.
bruge “bruge” means “use” in “vi skal bruge den anden perron”. It is the infinitive after “skal” and takes “den anden perron” as the thing to use. Use “bruge” when saying that someone should use a route, object, or option.
den “den” identifies the specific alternative in “den anden perron”; later, in “Hav den ved hånden”, it refers back to the ticket. Its meaning therefore depends on the noun or item already being discussed. Use “den” to point to a specific common-gender item or to refer back to one.
i stedet The expression “i stedet” means “instead” in “den anden perron i stedet”. “i” and “stedet” work together as one expression that marks a replacement or alternative. Use it when one option is used in place of another.
Så “Så” means “then” at the beginning of “Så skal vi følge skiltene nu.” It connects the new decision to the platform change just mentioned. Use it to introduce a resulting action or response to information.
følge “følge” means “follow” in “skal vi følge skiltene nu”. It is the infinitive after “skal” and takes “skiltene” as its object. Use “følge” when moving according to signs, directions, or a person’s guidance.
skiltene “skiltene” means “the signs” in “følge skiltene”. It refers to the specific station signs that guide the speakers to the correct platform. Use it when following visible signs or directions in a place.
nu “nu” means “now” in “følge skiltene nu” and “hvis vi går nu”. It places the action in the present moment and shows that the speakers should act without waiting. Use it with an action when specifying when that action should happen.
Har “Har” means “have” in the question “Har vi tid nok til at komme derhen?” and in the reply “Det har vi”. It is the form of “have” used with “vi” in the present. Use “Har vi ...?” to ask whether the group has something or has enough of something.
tid “tid” means “time” in “Har vi tid nok til at komme derhen?”. Here it means available time for reaching the other platform. Use the pattern “have tid til at + infinitive” when asking or saying whether there is time for an action.
nok “nok” means “enough” after “tid” in “tid nok”. It shows that the available time is sufficient for reaching the platform. Use it after a noun when evaluating whether there is a sufficient amount.
til “til” links the available time to the action in “tid nok til at komme derhen”. In this construction, “til at” introduces the action that the time is sufficient for. Use “tid til at + infinitive” to describe time available for doing something.
komme “komme” means “get” or “come” in “til at komme derhen”. It is the infinitive after “at” and describes reaching the other place. Use it with a destination or place expression when talking about reaching somewhere.
derhen “derhen” means “there” as a destination in “komme derhen”. It refers to the other platform already under discussion. Use it when referring to reaching a place that has been mentioned or indicated.
Det “Det” refers to the sufficient amount of time in “Det har vi”. The reply means that the speakers do have enough time, so it does not refer to a concrete object here. Use this form to refer back to an idea or situation already mentioned.
hvis “hvis” means “if” in “hvis vi går nu”. It introduces the condition under which the speakers have enough time. Use “hvis + clause” when making one result depend on a condition.
går “går” means “go” or “leave” in “hvis vi går nu”. In this station context, it describes leaving now to reach the other platform. It is the present form of “gå”; use it for movement on foot or leaving a place.
Jeg “Jeg” means “I” in “Jeg holder min billet klar.” It is the subject who will keep the ticket ready. Use “Jeg” when speaking about your own action or intention.
holder “holder” means “keep” in “Jeg holder min billet klar.” It describes maintaining the ticket in a ready state, not merely touching it. Use the pattern “holde + object + klar” when keeping something ready for use or inspection.
min “min” means “my” before “billet” in “min billet”. It shows that the ticket belongs to the speaker. Use “min” before a singular common-gender noun when referring to something you possess.
billet “billet” means “ticket” in “min billet”. It is the travel document the staff may check before boarding. Use it when talking about a ticket for a train or another journey.
klar “klar” means “ready” in “holder min billet klar”. It describes the ticket as prepared and easy to present. Use it after an object in this pattern when that object needs to be ready for the next action.
Hav “Hav” means “keep” or “have ready” in the instruction “Hav den ved hånden”. It tells the listener to keep the ticket within easy reach. Use “Hav” at the beginning of a direct instruction about keeping something available.
ved hånden The expression “ved hånden” means “handy” or “within reach” in “Hav den ved hånden”. “ved” and “hånden” combine to describe something being available close at hand, rather than explaining the whole meaning through one word. Use it when an item needs to be easy to take or show.
personalet “personalet” means “the staff” in “personalet tjekker den måske”. It refers to the station staff who may inspect the ticket. Use it when talking about the employees working at a place.
tjekker “tjekker” means “checks” in “personalet tjekker den måske”. It describes the staff inspecting the ticket before boarding. It is the present form of “tjekke”; use it for checking a document, item, or detail.
måske “måske” means “maybe” in “personalet tjekker den måske”. It shows that the ticket check is possible but not certain. Use it when presenting an action or event as uncertain.
om bord The expression “om bord” means “aboard” or “on board” in “før vi går om bord”. “om” and “bord” work together as a fixed expression for being on a vehicle, rather than describing a literal table. Use the pattern “gå om bord” when getting onto a train, ship, or other vehicle.

Grammar Points

Bestemt ental: navneord får endelsen -et eller -en

tog → toget; tavle → tavlen

TOH-uh, TOH-uh; TEH-wluh, TEH-wlun

train → the train; board → the board

På dansk markeres “the” ofte som en endelse på navneordet: -et eller -en.

Nutid af verber ender ofte på -r

køre → kører; sige → siger

KUR-uh, KUR-uh; SEE-uh, SEE-uh

leave → leaves; say → says

Dansk nutid dannes ofte ved at tilføje -r til verbets grundform.

Danish Vocabulary

anden adj
AN-un other; different
Gender
common
bruge verb
BROO-uh use
følge verb
FUHL-uh follow
høre verb
HUR-uh hear Hørte
i stedet phrase
ee STEH instead
køre verb
KUR-uh leave; depart kører
lige før phrase
LEE-uh FUR just now
meddelelse noun
meh-DAYL-suh announcement meddelelsen
Gender
common
perron noun
puh-ROHN platform
Gender
common
sige verb
SEE-uh say siger
tavle noun
TEH-wluh board; display board Tavlen
Gender
common
tog noun
TOH train Toget
Gender
neuter

Quiz

Word Order

Arrange the words in the correct order.

Did you hear the announcement just now?

Show AnswerHørte du meddelelsen lige før?

The train is leaving from a different platform.

Show AnswerToget kører fra en anden perron.

Then we should follow the signs now.

Show AnswerSå skal vi følge skiltene nu.

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

leave; depart

Show Answerkører

platform

Show Answerperron

other; different

Show Answeranden

say

Show Answersiger