Borrowing time and renewing a library book | Learn Danish in English

About This Lesson

Use Borrowing time and renewing a library book to practice Danish conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

Hvor længe må jeg beholde denne bog?

vohr LENG-uh moh bih-HOL-uh DEN-uh boh? How long can I keep this book?

På sedlen står afleveringsdatoen.

poh SEH-thlun stohr ahf-LEH-vair-ings-DAY-toh-un. The slip shows the due date.

Hvad skal jeg gøre, hvis jeg har brug for mere tid?

veh skel yai GUR-uh, vess yai har proo foh MAY-uh tee? What should I do if I need more time?

Du kan forlænge lånet online, hvis ingen andre venter på bogen.

doo kan foh-LENG-uh lohn-uth on-LIGHN, vess ENG-un AHN-ruh VEN-tuh poh BOH-un. You can extend the loan online if no one else is waiting for the book.

Kan jeg gøre det hjemmefra?

kan yai GUR-uh deh YEM-uh-frah? Can I do that from home?

Log ind på din bibliotekkonto hjemmefra.

loh en poh deen bee-blee-oh-TAYG-kon-toh YEM-uh-frah. Log in to your library account from home.

Så skal jeg gemme sedlen sammen med bogen.

soh skel yai GEM-uh SEH-thlun SAM-un meh BOH-un. Then I should keep the slip with the book.

Den hjælper dig med at aflevere den til tiden.

den YEL-buh digh meh at ahf-leh-VAY-uh den teh TEE-thun. It will help you return it on time.

Word by Word

Hvor “Hvor” means “how” in the question “Hvor længe”, asking about duration. It is used before “længe” in this question pattern. Use it when asking how long something lasts or may continue.

længe “længe” means “long” when referring to a period of time, as in “Hvor længe”. Together, “Hvor længe” asks about duration. Use it with “Hvor” when asking how long an activity, stay, or borrowing period continues.

må “må” means “may” or “be allowed to” in “Hvor længe må jeg beholde denne bog?”. It is the form related to the citation form “måtte” and comes before “beholde” here. Use it when asking about permission or an allowed limit.

jeg “jeg” means “I” and is the person asking in “må jeg beholde denne bog”. It is the subject placed after “må” in this question. Use it when stating or asking what you yourself may do.

beholde “beholde” means “keep” or “retain” in “beholde denne bog”. It is the form used after “må” to describe keeping the book. Use it when talking about continuing to have an item rather than returning it.

denne “denne” means “this” and points to the particular book in “denne bog”. It comes directly before the noun it identifies. Use it when referring to one specific nearby or already identified item.

bog “bog” means “book” in “denne bog”. The phrase identifies the book whose borrowing period is being discussed. Use it when talking about a book as the object of keeping, reading, or returning.

På “På” means “on” in “På sedlen”, identifying the slip as the place where the information appears. It is capitalized because it begins the sentence; the same word also appears as “på” later in the dialogue. Use “På” with a surface, document, or item that contains information.

sedlen “sedlen” means “the slip” or “the note” in “På sedlen står afleveringsdatoen”. It is the definite form related to “seddel” and refers to the particular slip mentioned here. Use it when referring to a specific note or paper containing information.

står “står” means that information is written or appears in “På sedlen står afleveringsdatoen”. It is the form related to the citation form “stå”; here it describes what is shown on the slip. Use this pattern when information is displayed or written on a document.

afleveringsdatoen “afleveringsdatoen” means “the due date” or “the return date” in “På sedlen står afleveringsdatoen”. It is the definite form related to “afleveringsdato” and names the date for returning the book. Use it when discussing a stated deadline for handing something in.

Hvad “Hvad” means “what” in “Hvad skal jeg gøre”. It introduces a question about the action the speaker should take. Use it when asking what action or answer is appropriate.

skal “skal” means “should” or “is supposed to” in “Hvad skal jeg gøre”. It is the form related to “skulle” and comes before “gøre” to ask about the required action. Use it when asking what someone should do in a situation.

gøre “gøre” means “do” in “Hvad skal jeg gøre”. It is the form used after “skal” for the action being asked about. Use it after a modal expression when referring to an action someone should take.

hvis “hvis” means “if” and introduces the condition “hvis jeg har brug for mere tid”. It connects a possible need with the action or advice that follows. Use it when explaining what happens or should happen under a condition.

har brug for “har brug for” means “need” in “har brug for mere tid”. In this construction, “har” contributes “have”, “brug” expresses use or need, and “for” links the construction to what is needed. Use it before the needed thing, as in “har brug for mere tid”, when stating a practical need.

mere “mere” means “more” in “mere tid”, referring to an additional amount of time. It comes before the noun it describes. Use it when asking for or describing an amount beyond what is currently available.

tid “tid” means “time” in “mere tid”. It is the thing that the speaker needs more of. Use it when discussing the duration available for an activity or deadline.

Du “Du” means “you” as the person receiving the library advice in “Du kan forlænge lånet online”. It is capitalized because it begins the sentence. Use it when addressing one person directly about what they can do.

kan “kan” means “can” or “be able to” in “Du kan forlænge lånet online”. It is also used as “Kan” at the start of “Kan jeg gøre det hjemmefra?”; the form is related to the citation form “kunne”. Use it before an action to express ability or permission.

forlænge “forlænge” means “extend” or “renew” in “forlænge lånet”. It is the action that can be done to the loan and follows “kan”. Use it when requesting or describing extra time for a loan, period, or deadline.

lånet “lånet” means “the loan” in “forlænge lånet”. It is the definite form related to “lån” and refers here to the library borrowing period. Use it when talking about extending or managing a specific loan.

online “online” means that the action is carried out through the internet in “forlænge lånet online”. It describes how the loan can be extended. Use it after an action when explaining that it is done through a website or digital service.

ingen “ingen” means “no one” or “none” in “ingen andre”. It introduces the absence of people who are waiting for the book. Use it with a noun or with “andre” when saying that nobody or nothing meets the stated condition.

andre “andre” means “other people” in “ingen andre”, referring to people besides the current borrower. Together, “ingen andre” means that no one else is waiting. Use it when distinguishing other people from the person already being discussed.

venter “venter” means “waits” or “is waiting” in “ingen andre venter på bogen”. It is the form related to the citation form “vente” and describes what the other people are doing. Use it with “på” and the person or thing being awaited, as in “venter på bogen”.

bogen “bogen” means “the book” in “venter på bogen”. It is the definite form related to “bog” and refers to the specific book being borrowed. Use it after “venter på” when identifying the book that someone is waiting for.

det “det” means “it” in “Kan jeg gøre det hjemmefra?”. It refers back to extending the loan online rather than naming that action again. Use it to refer to an action or thing already clear from the conversation.

hjemmefra “hjemmefra” means “from home” in “gøre det hjemmefra”. It identifies home as the place from which the action is carried out. Use it when asking or saying that an activity can be done remotely from home.

Log ind “Log ind” means “log in” as an instruction in “Log ind på din bibliotekkonto”. “Log” gives the instruction to log, and “ind” indicates entering the account or system. Use it when telling someone to access an online account, commonly followed by “på” and the account or service.

din “din” means “your” in “din bibliotekkonto”. It identifies the account as belonging to the person being addressed and comes before the noun. Use it before something owned or associated with the person you are speaking to.

bibliotekkonto “bibliotekkonto” means “library account” in “din bibliotekkonto”. It names the online account used to manage the library loan. Use it when referring to the account through which library services are accessed.

Så “Så” means “then” in “Så skal jeg gemme sedlen”. It signals a conclusion or next step based on the previous advice. Use it when stating what follows from something just said.

gemme “gemme” means “keep” or “store” in “gemme sedlen sammen med bogen”. It describes putting the slip somewhere so it remains available and follows “skal”. Use it when saying that an item should be kept for later use.

sammen “sammen” means “together” in “sammen med bogen”. It shows that the slip and the book should be kept in the same place or as a set. Use it with “med” when grouping one thing with another.

med “med” means “with” in “sammen med bogen”. It links the slip to the book that should be kept alongside it. Use it to identify the person or thing accompanying or associated with another.

Den “Den” means “it” as the subject of “Den hjælper dig”, referring here to the slip. It is capitalized because it begins the sentence; the same pronoun appears as “den” in “aflevere den”. Use it to refer back to a specific item that has already been mentioned.

hjælper “hjælper” means “helps” in “Den hjælper dig med at aflevere den til tiden”. It is the form related to the citation form “hjælpe” and describes what the slip does for the borrower. Use it with the person helped, as in “hjælper dig”.

dig “dig” means “you” as the person receiving help in “hjælper dig”. It is the object form used after “hjælper”. Use it when describing an action that helps or affects the person being addressed.

at “at” marks the infinitive in “med at aflevere”. It links “med” to the action “aflevere” in the construction describing what the help enables. Use it before an infinitive when this construction introduces an action.

aflevere “aflevere” means “return” or “hand in” in “aflevere den til tiden”. It describes returning the book and follows “at”. Use it when handing a borrowed item, document, or other required item back to the relevant place or person.

til tiden “til tiden” means “on time” in “aflevere den til tiden”. Within the expression, “til” links the action to the relevant time and “tiden” means “the time”; together they describe meeting the deadline. Use it when saying that an action is completed by the required time.

Grammar Points

have brug for + substantiv

har brug for tid

har proo foh tee

need time

The fixed phrase have brug for means “need” and is followed by the thing needed.

ingen + verbum

Ingen venter

ENG-un VEN-tuh

Nobody is waiting.

Ingen means “nobody” or “no one” and can be the subject before the verb.

Danish Vocabulary

afleveringsdato noun

ahf-LEH-vair-ings-DAY-toh due date afleveringsdatoen

Gender: common

På sedlen står afleveringsdatoen.

beh ode verb

bih-HOL-uh keep; retain beholde

Hvor længe må jeg beholde denne bog?

bog noun

boh book denne bog

Gender: common

Hvor længe må jeg beholde denne bog?

forlænge verb

foh-LENG-uh extend; renew

Du kan forlænge lånet online, hvis ingen andre venter på bogen.

gøre verb

GUR-uh do

Hvad skal jeg gøre, hvis jeg har brug for mere tid?

have brug for phrase

HAH-vuh proo foh need har brug for

Hvad skal jeg gøre, hvis jeg har brug for mere tid?

hvor længe adv

vohr LENG-uh how long

Hvor længe må jeg beholde denne bog?

lån noun

lohn loan lånet

Gender: neuter

Du kan forlænge lånet online, hvis ingen andre venter på bogen.

online adv

on-LIGHN online

Du kan forlænge lånet online.

seddel noun

SEH-thul slip; note sedlen

Gender: common

På sedlen står afleveringsdatoen.

stå verb

stoh stand; say or show in writing står

På sedlen står afleveringsdatoen.

tid noun

tee time

Gender: common

Hvad skal jeg gøre, hvis jeg har brug for mere tid?

Quiz

Word Order

Arrange the words in the correct order.

The slip shows the due date.

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På sedlen står afleveringsdatoen.

Can I do that from home?

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Kan jeg gøre det hjemmefra?

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Log ind på din bibliotekkonto hjemmefra.

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

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gøre

keep; retain

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beholde

slip; note

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sedlen

stand; say or show in writing

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står