Preparing for a Short Test | Learn Danish in English

Danish lesson set in a contemporary Copenhagen everyday setting: In a language classroom, two adults prepare for a short test by choosing what to review and trying practice questions..

EN → DA / Level: A2

About This Lesson

Use Preparing for a Short Test to practice Danish conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

A

Vi skal snart have en kort test, ikke?

vee SGELL SNAHD HEH-vuh un KOH-uhd TESD, EG-uh? We have a short test coming up, right?
B

Den dækker de vigtigste dele af denne enhed.

den DEH-guh dee VEG-duh-stuh DEH-luh EH DEN-uh EN-hayth. It covers the main sections from this unit.
A

Hvilken del skal jeg læse først?

VEL-gun DEHL SGELL yai LEH-suh FURST? Which section should I review first?
B

Start med lytning, fordi det normalt påvirker din score.

SDAHD METH LEWD-ning, for-DEE deh NAW-mald paw-VEER-guh deen SGOH-uh. Start with listening, since it usually affects your score.
A

Kan vi prøve nogle øvelsesspørgsmål sammen?

kan VEE PRUH-vuh NOH-luh UH-vuhl-sus-SPUR-smawl SAM-un? Can we try some practice questions together?
B

Vi kan bruge nogle korte spørgsmål og tjekke hvert svar.

VEE kan BROO-uh NOH-luh KOH-uhd-uh SPUR-smawl uh CHEH-guh VAIR-d SVAH. We can use a few short questions and check each answer.
A

Jeg vil gennemgå mine fejl efter hvert spørgsmål.

yai vel GEN-um-GOH MEE-nuh FILE EF-tuh VAIR-d SPUR-smawl. I will review my mistakes after each one.
B

Det burde hjælpe dig med at forberede dig.

deh BOO-uh-thuh YEL-buh DAI METH ehd for-BAY-reh-thuh DAI. That should help you prepare.

Word by Word

Vi “Vi” means “we” here and includes the speaker and another person. It is the subject before the verb, as in “Vi skal...” or “Vi kan...”. Use it when describing an action shared by yourself and others.
skal “skal” shows that the test is expected to happen soon in “Vi skal snart have en kort test”. It is followed by the action in “skal ... have”. Use “skal” when talking about a planned or expected activity.
snart “snart” means “soon” and places the test in the near future. It appears before “have” in “skal snart have”. Use it with an action that will happen in a short time.
have “have” means “have” in the expression “have en kort test”, referring to taking or having a test rather than simply possessing something. It follows “skal” in “Vi skal snart have...”. Use “have” with an event or activity you are going to take part in.
en “en” means “a” before “test” in “en kort test”. It introduces one unspecified test. Reuse the pattern “en” followed by a singular noun when mentioning one item or event.
kort “kort” means “short” and describes the test in “en kort test”. It comes directly before the noun it describes. Use “kort” to describe a test, meeting, text, or other thing that does not last or extend for long.
test “test” refers to the short assessment the learners are preparing for. It appears in “en kort test”. Use it when talking about an examination or set of questions used to measure knowledge.
ikke At the end of “Vi skal snart have en kort test, ikke?”, “ikke” means “right?” and asks the listener to confirm the statement. It is not functioning as simple negation here. Use a statement followed by “ikke?” when checking that your understanding is correct.
Den “Den” means “it” and refers back to the test in “Den dækker de vigtigste dele...”. It is the subject placed before the verb “dækker”. Use “Den” when referring back to the relevant thing already mentioned.
dækker “dækker” means “covers” here: the test includes the important sections. It is followed by what is covered, “de vigtigste dele af denne enhed”. Use “dækker” with a topic, section, or area that something includes.
de “de” means “the” in “de vigtigste dele” and introduces the specific sections being discussed. Here it comes before the plural expression “vigtigste dele”, not before a person meaning “they”. Use “de” before specific plural nouns.
vigtigste “vigtigste” means “most important” or “main” and identifies which sections the test covers. It appears in “de vigtigste dele”. Use “de vigtigste” before a noun when selecting the main or highest-priority items.
dele “dele” means “parts” or “sections” of the unit. In “de vigtigste dele af denne enhed”, it refers to separate portions of the course material. Reuse “dele af...” when describing parts of a larger whole.
af “af” means “of” in “dele af denne enhed” and connects the sections to the unit they belong to. It appears between the part and the whole. Use “af” in the pattern “dele af...” when identifying what something is part of.
denne “denne” means “this” and points to the unit currently being discussed in “denne enhed”. It comes directly before the noun “enhed”. Use “denne” when referring to a particular nearby or current item.
enhed “enhed” means “unit” in the context of a language course. It appears in “denne enhed”, referring to the current course unit. Use it when talking about one organized section of study material.
Hvilken “Hvilken” means “which” and asks the listener to choose a section in “Hvilken del skal jeg læse først?”. It comes before the noun being selected. Use “Hvilken” when asking someone to identify one option from several possibilities.
del “del” means “part” or “section” in “Hvilken del”. It refers to one section of the unit that the speaker might review. Use “Hvilken del...” when asking which section should be chosen.
jeg “jeg” means “I” and refers to the speaker in “skal jeg læse”. In this question, it appears after “skal” because the question asks about the speaker’s action. Use “jeg” when describing your own action or intention.
læse “læse” means “read” or “review” here, referring to studying a section. It follows “skal” in “skal jeg læse først”. Use the pattern “skal ... læse” when saying that someone is going to read or review something.
først “først” means “first” and marks the section that should be reviewed before the others. It appears after “læse” in “læse først”. Use it when specifying the first step in an order of actions.
Start “Start” means “start” and gives the instruction to begin with listening. It is used at the beginning of “Start med lytning”. Use “Start med...” when telling someone which activity or item to begin with.
med “med” means “with” in “Start med lytning” and identifies the activity to begin with. It follows “Start” in this instruction. Reuse “Start med” before the first activity in a sequence.
lytning “lytning” means “listening” and names the listening section or activity to review first. It appears after “med” in “Start med lytning”. Use it when referring to listening practice as part of language study.
fordi “fordi” means “because” and introduces the reason for starting with listening: it normally affects the score. It is followed by the clause “det normalt påvirker din score”. Use “fordi” before a reason that explains a recommendation or statement.
det “det” means “it” and refers back to listening in “fordi det normalt påvirker din score”. It is the thing described as affecting the score. Use “det” when referring back to the relevant activity or matter in the sentence.
normalt “normalt” means “usually” or “normally” and says that the effect on the score commonly occurs. It appears before “påvirker” in “det normalt påvirker...”. Use it when describing what generally happens rather than what happens every time.
påvirker “påvirker” means “affects” and describes listening as having an effect on the score. It is followed by the affected object, “din score”. Use “påvirker” with the person, result, or situation that is influenced.
din “din” means “your” and identifies the score as belonging to the person being addressed in “din score”. It comes directly before the noun. Use “din” when referring to something connected with the person you are speaking to.
score “score” means “score” or result in the test context. It appears in “din score”, the result that listening can affect. Use it when discussing the number or result someone receives in an assessment.
Kan “Kan” means “can” and begins the question “Kan vi prøve nogle øvelsesspørgsmål sammen?”. It asks whether the group is able or allowed to do the activity. Use the pattern “Kan” + subject + action when asking about a possible activity.
prøve “prøve” means “try” in “prøve nogle øvelsesspørgsmål”. It follows “Kan” and takes the practice questions as its object. Use “prøve” with an activity, method, or set of questions that you want to attempt.
nogle “nogle” means “some” or “a few” and introduces the practice questions in “nogle øvelsesspørgsmål”. It is used before the plural noun. Reuse “nogle” when referring to an unspecified small number of items.
øvelsesspørgsmål “øvelsesspørgsmål” means “practice questions” and refers to questions used for preparation rather than the actual test. It appears after “nogle” in “nogle øvelsesspørgsmål”. Use it when asking or working with questions designed to practise a skill.
sammen “sammen” means “together” and shows that the speakers will try the questions jointly. It appears at the end of “prøve nogle øvelsesspørgsmål sammen”. Use it after an activity to show that people are doing it with one another.
bruge “bruge” means “use” in “Vi kan bruge nogle korte spørgsmål”. It follows “kan” and takes the questions as its object. Use the pattern “kan bruge” when saying that something can be used for a task.
korte “korte” means “short” and describes the questions in “nogle korte spørgsmål”. It appears before the plural noun it describes. Use “korte” before plural items that are brief in length or scope.
spørgsmål “spørgsmål” means “questions” and refers to the practice questions used in the exercise. In “nogle korte spørgsmål”, it is the thing the learners use. Use it when referring to questions in a test, exercise, or conversation.
og “og” means “and” and connects the two actions “bruge” and “tjekke” in “Vi kan bruge ... og tjekke...”. It shows that both actions are included. Use “og” to join two related actions or pieces of information.
tjekke “tjekke” means “check” in “tjekke hvert svar”. It is coordinated with “bruge” after “kan”, so both actions are possible. Use “tjekke” with an answer, result, or piece of information that needs to be checked.
hvert “hvert” means “each” and indicates that the learners check the answers one by one in “hvert svar”. It comes directly before the noun it specifies. Use “hvert” when referring to every individual item in a group.
svar “svar” means “answer” and is the object that the learners check in “tjekke hvert svar”. It refers to the response given to a practice question. Use it when discussing the response to a question or test item.
vil “vil” means “will” and expresses the speaker’s intention in “Jeg vil gennemgå mine fejl”. It is followed by the action “gennemgå”. Use “vil” + an action when stating what you intend or plan to do.
gennemgå “gennemgå” means “review” or “go through” and refers to examining the mistakes in detail. It follows “vil” in “vil gennemgå mine fejl”. Use “gennemgå” with material, answers, or mistakes that you want to examine systematically.
mine “mine” means “my” and identifies the mistakes as belonging to the speaker in “mine fejl”. It comes before the noun it describes. Use “mine” when referring to several things connected with yourself.
fejl “fejl” means “mistakes” or errors in the learner’s work. It is the object of “gennemgå” in “gennemgå mine fejl”. Use it when discussing errors that need to be reviewed or corrected.
efter “efter” means “after” and places the review of the mistakes after each question in “efter hvert spørgsmål”. It introduces the event that comes first in the sequence. Use “efter” before an activity or event that has already happened.
burde “burde” means “should” or “ought to” and expresses an expectation that the activity will help with preparation. It is followed by “hjælpe” in “burde hjælpe dig”. Use “burde” when saying that an outcome is expected or advisable.
hjælpe “hjælpe” means “help” in “burde hjælpe dig med at forberede dig”. It follows “burde” and describes making preparation easier for the other person. Reuse the pattern “hjælpe” + person + “med at” + activity when describing help with an action.
dig “dig” means “you” in “hjælpe dig med at forberede dig”. The first occurrence identifies the person receiving help, and the second identifies the person preparing themself. Use “dig” for the person addressed when that person is affected by the action.

Grammar Points

fordi + subjekt + adverbium + verballed

fordi lytning normalt påvirker score

for-DEE LEWD-ning NAW-mald paw-VEER-guh SGOH-uh

because listening usually affects the score

After fordi, the adverb normally comes before the verb in a subordinate clause.

den + superlativ + substantiv

den vigtigste del

den VEG-duh-stuh DEHL

the most important part

Danish uses den before a definite noun phrase with a superlative adjective.

Danish Vocabulary

del noun
DEHL part; section dele
Gender
common
denne det
DEN-uh this
dække verb
DEH-guh cover dækker
enhed noun
EN-hayth unit
Gender
common
have verb
HEH-vuh have
hvilken det
VEL-gun which
Gender
common
kort adj
KOH-uhd short
Gender
common
læse verb
LEH-suh review; read
snart adv
SNAHD soon
test noun
TESD test
Gender
common
vi pron
vee we
vigtig adj
VEG-dee important vigtigste

Quiz

Word Order

Arrange the words in the correct order.

Which section should I review first?

Show AnswerHvilken del skal jeg læse først?

Can we try some practice questions together?

Show AnswerKan vi prøve nogle øvelsesspørgsmål sammen?

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

this

Show Answerdenne

have

Show Answerhave

test

Show Answertest

important

Show Answervigtigste