Explaining a Grammar Pattern | Learn Danish in English

Danish lesson set in a contemporary Copenhagen everyday setting: In a language classroom, two adults discuss a grammar pattern, why a verb form changes, and how to make another example..

EN → DA / Level: A2

About This Lesson

Use Explaining a Grammar Pattern to practice Danish conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

A

Kan du forklare dette grammatiske mønster igen?

KAN doo for-KLAIR-uh DET-uh gra-MEH-dis-kuh MURN-stuh ee-GAIN? Could you explain this grammar pattern again?
B

Det viser, at en handling allerede er afsluttet.

DEHT VEE-suh ad en HAN-ling al-uh-RAI-thuh air AF-sloo-ted. It shows that an action is already complete.
A

Hvorfor ændrer verbet sig i denne sætning?

VOHR-for EN-ruh VAIR-bed sigh ee DEN-uh SED-ning? Why does the verb change in this sentence?
B

Formen ændrer sig, fordi begivenheden er afsluttet.

FORM-en EN-ruh sigh, for-THEE beh-GEE-vuhn-hay-then air AF-sloo-ted. The form changes because the event is finished.
A

Kan du give mig et andet eksempel?

KAN doo GEE-vuh my ed AN-uh-th eg-SEM-buhl? Can you give me another example?
B

Nogen åbnede bogen før undervisningen.

NOH-uhn AWB-nuh-thuh BOH-uhn fur UN-uh-ves-ning-en. Someone opened the book before class.
A

Det gør mønsteret lettere at forstå.

DEHT gur MURN-stuh-ed LEH-duh-ruh ad for-STAW. That makes the pattern easier to understand.
B

Prøv nu at lave din egen sætning.

PRURV noo ad LEH-vuh deen AY-uhn SED-ning. Now try making your own sentence.

Word by Word

Kan “Kan” means “can” in “Kan du forklare dette grammatiske mønster igen?” It is used at the beginning of a question to ask whether someone is able or willing to do something.
du “du” means “you” in the question “Kan du forklare dette grammatiske mønster igen?” It identifies the person being asked and commonly follows “Kan” in this question pattern.
forklare “forklare” means “explain” in “Kan du forklare dette grammatiske mønster igen?” After “Kan du”, it names the requested action in the form “Kan du forklare ...?”.
dette “dette” means “this” in “dette grammatiske mønster” and points to the particular pattern being discussed. It comes directly before the description and noun in this phrase.
grammatiske “grammatiske” means “grammatical” in “grammatiske mønster” and describes the type of pattern. It is placed before the noun it describes.
mønster “mønster” means “pattern” in “grammatiske mønster”. It names the grammar pattern being explained; later, “mønsteret” refers to that pattern as a specific one.
igen “igen” means “again” in “forklare dette grammatiske mønster igen”. It shows that the explanation has been given before and is being requested once more.
Det “Det” means “it” in “Det viser, at en handling allerede er afsluttet” and refers to the grammar pattern just mentioned. It is used at the start of the sentence as the subject of “viser”.
viser “viser” means “shows” in “Det viser, at en handling allerede er afsluttet”. The pattern “Det viser, at ...” introduces what the pattern indicates.
at “at” means “that” in “viser, at en handling allerede er afsluttet” and introduces the information being shown. In “at lave” later, the same form introduces an action after “Prøv ...”.
en “en” means “a” in “en handling”. It introduces one non-specific action in the clause “at en handling allerede er afsluttet”.
handling “handling” means “action” in “en handling allerede er afsluttet”. It names the action whose completion is being described.
allerede “allerede” means “already” in “allerede er afsluttet”. It shows that the action was complete by the relevant point in the explanation.
er “er” means “is” in “en handling allerede er afsluttet”. It links the action with the description “afsluttet”.
afsluttet “afsluttet” means “complete” or “finished” in “allerede er afsluttet”. With “er”, it describes the action as having reached completion.
Hvorfor “Hvorfor” means “why” in “Hvorfor ændrer verbet sig i denne sætning?” It introduces a question asking for the reason for the change.
ændrer “ændrer” means “changes” in “ændrer verbet sig”. Together with “sig”, it describes the verb changing in the sentence.
verbet “verbet” means “the verb” in “verbet sig i denne sætning”. It identifies the grammatical word whose form is being discussed.
sig “sig” is the reflexive part of “ændrer sig” in “ændrer verbet sig i denne sætning”. It belongs with “ændrer” in this expression describing the verb changing.
i “i” means “in” in “i denne sætning”. It connects the change with the sentence where it occurs.
denne “denne” means “this” in “denne sætning” and points to the sentence under discussion. It comes directly before “sætning”.
sætning “sætning” means “sentence” in “denne sætning”. It identifies the grammatical example in which the verb changes.
Formen “Formen” means “the form” in “Formen ændrer sig”. It refers to the particular verb form being discussed and is the subject of the sentence.
fordi “fordi” means “because” in “ændrer sig, fordi begivenheden er afsluttet”. It introduces the reason why the form changes.
begivenheden “begivenheden” means “the event” in “fordi begivenheden er afsluttet”. It identifies the event whose completion explains the change.
give “give” means “give” in “Kan du give mig et andet eksempel?” It follows “Kan du” in a request for someone to provide something.
mig “mig” means “me” in “give mig et andet eksempel”. It identifies the person receiving the example and follows “give” in this pattern.
et “et” means “a” in “et andet eksempel”. It introduces one non-specific example.
andet “andet” means “another” or “different” in “et andet eksempel”. It shows that the requested example should not be the same as the one already discussed.
eksempel “eksempel” means “example” in “et andet eksempel”. It names the additional illustration being requested.
Nogen “Nogen” means “someone” in “Nogen åbnede bogen før undervisningen”. It refers to an unspecified person who opened the book.
åbnede “åbnede” means “opened” in “Nogen åbnede bogen”. It describes the completed action in the example about what happened before class.
bogen “bogen” means “the book” in “åbnede bogen”. It is the specific object that someone opened.
før “før” means “before” in “før undervisningen”. It places the book-opening earlier than the class or teaching session.
undervisningen “undervisningen” means “the class” or “the teaching session” in “før undervisningen”. It names the event used as the time reference.
gør “gør” means “makes” in “Det gør mønsteret lettere at forstå”. It introduces the result that the pattern becomes easier to understand.
mønsteret “mønsteret” means “the pattern” in “Det gør mønsteret lettere at forstå”. The form refers to the specific grammar pattern already being discussed.
lettere “lettere” means “easier” in “gør mønsteret lettere at forstå”. It describes the result of the explanation or example making understanding less difficult.
forstå “forstå” means “understand” in “lettere at forstå”. It names the ability that becomes easier, and it follows “at” in this expression.
Prøv “Prøv” means “try” in “Prøv nu at lave din egen sætning”. It gives an instruction encouraging the learner to attempt the action that follows.
nu “nu” means “now” in “Prøv nu at lave din egen sætning”. It indicates that the learner should begin the exercise at this point.
lave “lave” means “make” in “at lave din egen sætning”. It describes the action the learner is asked to try and follows “at” after “Prøv”.
din “din” means “your” in “din egen sætning”. It shows that the sentence belongs to or is produced by the person being addressed.
egen “egen” means “own” in “din egen sætning”. It emphasizes that the learner should make a sentence of their own, not repeat someone else’s sentence.

Grammar Points

ændre sig

Hvorfor ændrer verbet sig?

VOHR-for EN-ruh VAIR-bed sigh?

Why does the verb change?

ændre sig er et refleksivt verbum; sig viser, at ændringen gælder verbet selv.

fordi + subjekt + verb

fordi nogen åbnede bogen før undervisningen

for-THEE NOH-uhn AWB-nuh-thuh BOH-uhn fur UN-uh-ves-ning-en

because someone opened the book before the class

Efter fordi kommer en ledsætning med sin egen grundstruktur: subjektet står før verbet.

Danish Vocabulary

afsluttet adj
AF-sloo-ted completed; finished
allerede adv
al-uh-RAI-thuh already
dette det
DET-uh this
du pron
DOO you
forklare verb
for-KLAIR-uh explain
grammatiske adj
gra-MEH-dis-kuh grammatical
handling noun
HAN-ling action
Gender
common
Definite
false
hvorfor adv
VOHR-for why
igen adv
ee-GAIN again
mønster noun
MURN-stuh pattern
Gender
neuter
Definite
false
vise verb
VEE-suh show viser
ændre sig verb
EN-ruh sigh change ændrer sig

Quiz

Word Order

Arrange the words in the correct order.

Someone opened the book before class.

Show AnswerNogen åbnede bogen før undervisningen.

That makes the pattern easier to understand.

Show AnswerDet gør mønsteret lettere at forstå.

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

grammatical

Show Answergrammatiske

pattern

Show Answermønster

explain

Show Answerforklare

show

Show Answerviser