Making a Short Phone Call Before a Meeting | Learn Danish in English

About This Lesson

Use Making a Short Phone Call Before a Meeting to practice Danish conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

Jeg skal foretage et kort telefonopkald.

yai skahl foh-TAH-uhd ehd kawd tay-luh-FOHN-uhb-KAHL. I need to make a short phone call.

Du kan bruge gangen, hvis du har brug for privatliv.

doo kan BROO-uh GANG-en, vehs doo hah BROO foh pree-VAHD-lee. You can use the hallway if you need privacy.

Jeg vil ikke forstyrre alle.

yai veel EE-guh foh-STUR-uh AL-uh. I don't want to disturb everyone.

Der burde være stille derude lige nu.

dair BOO-thuh VAIR-uh STEEL-uh dair-OO-thuh LEE-uh NOO. It should be quiet out there right now.

Jeg kommer tilbage, før mødet begynder.

yai KAW-muh tay-BAH-guh, fur MUH-thuhd beh-GUN-uh. I'll return before the meeting starts.

Det passer fint. Vi har stadig tid nok.

deh PAH-suh feent. vee hah STAY-thee TEETH NAWK. That works. We still have enough time.

Vil du holde min plads, mens jeg ringer?

veel doo HOL-uh meen PLAHS, vehns yai REENG-uh? Please save my seat while I call.

Jeg passer på dine noter her.

yai PAH-suh poh DEE-nuh NOH-duh hair. I'll keep your notes here.

Word by Word

Jeg In this dialogue, “Jeg” means “I,” referring to the speaker. It is used as the subject before actions such as “Jeg skal foretage” and “Jeg vil ikke forstyrre.” You use it when talking about yourself.

skal In “Jeg skal foretage et kort telefonopkald,” “skal” expresses that the speaker needs or intends to make the call. It is followed here by the action “foretage.” Use this pattern to state what you need or intend to do.

foretage “Foretage” means “make” or “conduct” in the expression “foretage et kort telefonopkald.” The whole expression describes carrying out a phone call, so “foretage” is used with “et kort telefonopkald” here. This is useful for describing a planned or completed action such as making a call.

et In “et kort telefonopkald,” “et” means “a” or “an” before this noun phrase. It belongs with “telefonopkald” and is placed before the adjective “kort.” Use “et” with this type of noun phrase when referring to one item.

kort In “et kort telefonopkald,” “kort” means “short,” describing the limited length of the phone call. It comes before “telefonopkald” in this phrase. You can use it to describe a brief activity or event.

telefonopkald “Telefonopkald” means “phone call” in “et kort telefonopkald.” It is the action the speaker needs to carry out before the meeting. Use it when talking about making or receiving a phone call.

Du “Du” means “you,” referring to the person being spoken to. In “Du kan bruge gangen,” it is the subject of the suggestion. Use it when addressing one person directly.

kan In “Du kan bruge gangen,” “kan” expresses that the other person is able or allowed to use the hallway. It is followed by the action “bruge.” Use “kan” before an action when offering permission or describing ability.

bruge “Bruge” means “use” in “bruge gangen.” It describes using the hallway as a place for the private call. It follows “kan” here, and you can use the same pattern with another object or place.

gangen “Gangen” means “the hallway” in “bruge gangen.” It identifies the place the speaker may use for privacy. The form appears with “bruge” as the object of that action.

hvis “Hvis” means “if” and introduces the condition “hvis du har brug for privatliv.” The clause explains when using the hallway is appropriate. Use it to introduce a condition for an offer, suggestion, or action.

har In “har brug for privatliv,” “har” contributes the meaning “have” to the expression for needing something. The complete expression “har brug for” means “need” here, while “privatliv” is what is needed. Use “har brug for” before the thing someone needs.

brug In “har brug for privatliv,” “brug” is part of the complete expression “har brug for,” which means “need.” It links “har” with the thing that is needed, “privatliv.” Keep “brug” together with “har” and “for” in this expression.

for In “har brug for privatliv,” “for” completes the expression “har brug for,” meaning “need.” The needed thing follows it: “privatliv.” Use the complete expression before a noun or other thing that someone needs.

privatliv “Privatliv” means “privacy” in “har brug for privatliv.” It is the condition the caller needs in order not to be disturbed. Use it when talking about needing personal space or privacy.

vil In “Jeg vil ikke forstyrre alle,” “vil” expresses what the speaker wants or intends. In “Vil du holde min plads,” the same form begins a polite request asking whether the other person is willing to do something. Its meaning depends on the sentence around it.

ikke “Ikke” means “not” in “Jeg vil ikke forstyrre alle.” It negates the speaker’s wish or intention to disturb everyone. It is placed after “vil” in this sentence.

forstyrre “Forstyrre” means “disturb” in “vil ikke forstyrre alle.” It describes the action the speaker wants to avoid. It follows “vil ikke” here, and the object of the action is “alle.”

alle “Alle” means “everyone” in “forstyrre alle.” It refers to all the people in the meeting area who might be disturbed. Use it after an action when the action affects everyone in a group.

Der At the beginning of “Der burde være stille derude,” “Der” introduces the situation rather than pointing to a specific object. The sentence says that it should be quiet out there. This use is common when describing whether a condition exists in a place.

burde “Burde” means “should” or “ought to” in “Der burde være stille derude.” It expresses an expectation that the place will be quiet. Use it before a condition or action that is expected or advisable.

være “Være” means “be” in “burde være stille.” It connects the expectation expressed by “burde” with the condition “stille.” After “burde,” it appears in this form before the description of the situation.

stille “Stille” means “quiet” in “være stille.” It describes the expected sound level in the hallway. Use it after “være” to describe a quiet place or situation.

derude “Derude” means “out there,” referring to the hallway or area outside the current place. In “stille derude,” it identifies where the quietness is expected. Use it to point to a place outside the immediate location.

lige In “lige nu,” “lige” contributes to the time expression meaning “right now.” It strengthens the reference to the present moment together with “nu.” Keep it with “nu” when specifying that something is happening at this exact time.

nu In “lige nu,” “nu” means “now.” Together with “lige,” it refers to the present moment when the hallway is expected to be quiet. Use it to say when something is happening or expected.

kommer In “Jeg kommer tilbage,” “kommer” means “come” as part of the expression for returning. It is followed by “tilbage,” which adds the meaning of returning to the current place. Use this expression when telling someone you will return.

tilbage In “kommer tilbage,” “tilbage” means “back” and shows that the speaker will return. It completes the meaning of “kommer” in this sentence. Use it after a movement verb when the movement is back to a previous place.

før “Før” means “before” in “før mødet begynder.” It introduces the time limit for the speaker’s return. Use it before an event or clause that must happen later than the return.

mødet “Mødet” means “the meeting” in “før mødet begynder.” It identifies the event that has not started yet when the speaker returns. It follows “før” as the event used to set the time.

begynder “Begynder” means “starts” in “mødet begynder.” It describes the beginning of the meeting. Use it as the action that follows the subject “mødet” in this time clause.

Det “Det” means “that” in “Det passer fint,” referring to the proposed plan for the phone call. It is the subject of the response that says the plan works. Use it to refer back to a situation or suggestion just mentioned.

passer In “Det passer fint,” “passer” means “works” or “is suitable.” In “passer på,” it contributes to a different expression meaning “look after” or “take care of.” The surrounding word “på” determines the second use in the dialogue.

fint In “Det passer fint,” “fint” means “fine” or “well,” showing that the plan is acceptable. It modifies the statement that the arrangement works. Use it to give a positive, agreeable response.

Vi “Vi” means “we,” referring to both people in the conversation. In “Vi har stadig tid nok,” it is the subject of the statement about their available time. Use it when speaking about yourself together with at least one other person.

stadig “Stadig” means “still” in “Vi har stadig tid nok.” It shows that enough time remains available. Use it before the relevant condition when something continues to be true.

tid “Tid” means “time” in “tid nok.” It refers to the amount of time available before the meeting. Use it with “nok” to say that there is enough time for an activity.

nok In “tid nok,” “nok” means “enough.” It shows that the available time is sufficient. It comes after “tid” in this expression.

holde In “Vil du holde min plads,” “holde” means “keep” or “hold,” referring to keeping the speaker’s seat available. The object is “min plads.” Use it after a request with “Vil du” when asking someone to keep something for you.

min “Min” means “my” in “min plads.” It shows that the seat belongs to or is reserved for the speaker. It comes directly before “plads” in this noun phrase.

plads “Plads” means “seat” in “holde min plads,” referring to the speaker’s place in the meeting. The exact meaning is determined by the request to keep it available. Use it when talking about a seat or a place reserved for someone.

mens “Mens” means “while” and introduces the simultaneous action “mens jeg ringer.” It shows that the seat should be kept during the phone call. Use it to connect two actions happening at the same time.

ringer “Ringer” means “call” in “jeg ringer,” referring to making the phone call. It describes what the speaker will do while the other person keeps the seat. Use it in a clause after “mens” to describe the action happening during that time.

på In “passer på dine noter,” “på” is part of the complete expression “passer på,” meaning “look after” or “take care of.” It connects “passer” with the notes being looked after. Keep “passer på” together when describing taking care of something.

dine “Dine” means “your” in “dine noter.” It shows that the notes belong to the person being addressed. It comes before “noter” in this noun phrase.

noter “Noter” means “notes” in “passer på dine noter.” These are the speaker’s written materials that the other person will keep safe. Use it when referring to written points or materials used for a meeting.

her “Her” means “here” in “dine noter her,” identifying the place where the notes will remain. It shows that the notes will stay in the current location. Use it to point to the place where something is or will be kept.

Grammar Points

før + ledsætning

Jeg foretager et kort telefonopkald, før mødet begynder.

yai foh-TAH-guh ehd kawd tay-luh-FOHN-uhb-KAHL, fur MUH-thuhd beh-GUN-uh.

I make a short phone call before the meeting begins.

før introduces a subordinate clause; the verb comes at the end: mødet begynder.

Mens + ledsætning

Mens jeg ringer, holder hun pladsen.

vehns yai REENG-uh, HOL-uh hoon PLAHS-en.

While I call, she keeps the seat.

mens introduces a subordinate clause. After it, the main clause keeps Danish verb-second word order.

Danish Vocabulary

bruge verb

BROO-uh to use

bruge gangen

derude adv

dair-OO-thuh out there

stille derude

foretage verb

foh-TAH-uh to carry out; to make

foretage et telefonopkald

forstyrre verb

foh-STUR-uh to disturb

forstyrre alle

før conj

fur before

før mødet begynder

gang noun

GANG hallway gangen

Gender: common

bruge gangen

komme tilbage phrase

KAW-muh tay-BAH-guh to return; to come back kommer tilbage

Jeg kommer tilbage

kort adj

kawd short

Gender: neuter

et kort telefonopkald

lige nu phrase

LEE-uh NOO right now

derude lige nu

privatliv noun

pree-VAHD-lee privacy

Gender: neuter

brug for privatliv

stille adj

STEEL-uh quiet

være stille

telefonopkald noun

tay-luh-FOHN-uhb-KAHL phone call

Gender: neuter

et kort telefonopkald

Quiz

Word Order

Arrange the words in the correct order.

I need to make a short phone call.

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Jeg skal foretage et kort telefonopkald.

I don't want to disturb everyone.

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Jeg vil ikke forstyrre alle.

I'll return before the meeting starts.

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Jeg kommer tilbage, før mødet begynder.

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

short

Show Answer

kort

to carry out; to make

Show Answer

foretage

privacy

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privatliv

to use

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bruge