Choosing an Activity Based on the Weather | Learn Danish in English

Danish lesson set in a contemporary Copenhagen everyday setting: During daily planning, two adults check the forecast and choose a morning walk with an indoor backup..

EN → DA / Level: A2

About This Lesson

Use Choosing an Activity Based on the Weather to practice Danish conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

A

Skal vi lave noget indendørs eller udendørs i morgen?

SKEL vee LEH-vuh NOH-uh in-en-DUHRSS EL-uh OO-en-DUHRSS ee MOR-en? Should we do something indoors or outdoors tomorrow?
B

Tjek vejrudsigten, før vi beslutter os.

CHEK VAI-uh-SIG-den, FUHR vee beh-SLOO-deh OSS. Check the forecast before we decide.
A

Der står, at der bliver sol om morgenen.

Dah STOHR, eh dah BLEE-uh SOHL um MOR-en-en. It says the morning will be sunny.
B

Så kunne vi gå en tur før frokost.

SOH KOO-nuh vee GOH en TOOR fuhr FROH-kost. Then we could take a walk before lunch.
A

Hvis det regner senere, kan vi tage på café.

VES deh RY-ner seh-NAIR-uh, kan vee TAY-uh poh ka-FAY. If it rains later, we can visit a cafe.
B

Så holder vi planen fleksibel.

SOH HOL-deh vee PLEN-en flek-see-BALE. That keeps the plan flexible.
A

Lad os planlægge en gåtur om morgenen.

LAH oss PLEN-leh-guh en GOH-toor um MOR-en-en. Let's plan on a morning walk.
B

Vi kan gå indenfor, hvis vejret ændrer sig.

Vee kan GOH in-en-FOHR, VES VAI-uh EN-ruh SAI. We can move indoors if the weather changes.

Word by Word

Skal “Skal” asks about a proposed plan in “Skal vi lave noget...?”, so it means “shall we” or “should we” here. Use “Skal vi + infinitive” when suggesting an activity together.
vi “vi” means “we” and is the subject of “Skal vi lave...?”. Use “vi” before a verb when referring to yourself and at least one other person.
lave “lave” means “do” or “make” here, referring generally to doing an activity. It follows “Skal” in “Skal vi lave noget...?”; “lave noget” is a useful pattern for proposing an unspecified activity.
noget “noget” means “something” in “lave noget”, leaving the activity unspecified. Use it after a verb when you mean an unspecified thing or activity, as in “lave noget”.
indendørs “indendørs” means “indoors” and describes where the activity would take place. It is contrasted with “udendørs” in “indendørs eller udendørs”, useful when choosing between inside and outside activities.
eller “eller” means “or” and connects the two alternatives “indendørs” and “udendørs”. Use “eller” between options when asking someone to choose.
udendørs “udendørs” means “outdoors” and describes an activity taking place outside. In “indendørs eller udendørs”, it helps present outside as the alternative to inside.
i “i” means “in” within the time expression “i morgen”, which means “tomorrow”. Use “i morgen” to refer to the following day when discussing plans.
morgen “morgen” means “morning”, but in “i morgen” the whole expression means “tomorrow”. Use “i morgen” when setting an activity for the following day.
Tjek “Tjek” means “check” and is used here as a direct instruction to look at the forecast. Use “Tjek + noun” when telling someone to check a particular thing.
vejrudsigten “vejrudsigten” means “the weather forecast” and is the thing to be checked before deciding. “Tjek vejrudsigten” is a useful expression when checking expected weather conditions.
før “før” means “before” and introduces the condition that must come first in “før vi beslutter os”. Use “før” before an action or clause that happens earlier.
beslutter “beslutter” means “decide” in “vi beslutter os”. It is used together with “os” in the expression “beslutter os”, which is useful when saying that people make a decision.
os “os” refers back to “vi” as the people making the decision in “vi beslutter os”. It is required in the expression “beslutter os”; use that expression when saying “we decide” in this context.
Der “Der” introduces the information being reported in “Der står, at...”, meaning that the forecast states something. Use “Der står, at...” when reporting what is written or stated in a source.
står “står” means “is written” or “states” in the forecast expression “Der står, at...”. Use “Der står, at...” to say what a forecast, sign, or text says.
at “at” means “that” and introduces the information reported after “Der står”. Use “at + clause” when connecting a reporting expression to what is being said.
bliver “bliver” presents the expected weather condition in “der bliver sol”. In “Der står, at der bliver sol”, it helps describe what the forecast predicts.
sol “sol” means “sun” and refers to sunny conditions in “der bliver sol”. The expression “der bliver sol” is used to say that it will be sunny or that there will be sun.
om “om” means “in” in the time expression “om morgenen”. Use “om + part of the day” to say when something happens during that part of the day.
morgenen “morgenen” means “the morning” in “om morgenen”. Use “om morgenen” when placing an activity in the morning.
Så “Så” means “then” here and links the forecast to the suggested walk. Use “Så + clause” when presenting a consequence or next step.
kunne “kunne” means “could” and presents the walk as a possible suggestion rather than a fixed decision. Use “kunne + infinitive”, as in “kunne vi gå”, when suggesting a possible action.
gå “gå” means “go” or “walk”, and in “gå en tur” it contributes to the meaning “take a walk”. Use the expression “gå en tur” when proposing or describing a walk.
en “en” means “a” before “tur” in the expression “en tur”. Use “en + noun” when referring to one unspecified item or activity of this type.
tur “tur” means “walk” in “gå en tur”. The reusable expression “gå en tur” is suitable when suggesting a short walk or outing.
frokost “frokost” means “lunch” in the time expression “før frokost”. Use “før frokost” when saying that something happens before lunch.
Hvis “Hvis” means “if” and introduces the condition “det regner senere”. Use “Hvis + clause” when describing a possible condition and what will happen under it.
det “det” means “it” in the weather expression “det regner”. It is used as the subject with the weather verb in this expression; use “det regner” to say that it is raining.
regner “regner” means “rains” or “is raining” in “det regner”. Use it with “det” in the common weather expression “det regner”.
senere “senere” means “later” and specifies that the possible rain would occur at a later time. Use “senere” when referring to a time after the current or previously mentioned time.
kan “kan” means “can” and expresses an available option in “kan vi tage på café”. Use “kan + infinitive” to say what someone is able or prepared to do.
tage “tage” means “take”, but in “tage på café” it is part of the expression for going to a café. Use “tage på + place” when describing going to a place such as a café.
på “på” means “to” in “tage på café” and marks the destination of the activity. Use it together with “tage” in “tage på café” when suggesting going to a café.
café “café” means “café” and is the destination in “tage på café”. Use “på café” when referring to going to a café for an activity.
holder “holder” means “keeps” in “holder planen fleksibel”. Here it takes “planen” as its object and describes keeping the plan in a flexible state; use “holder ... fleksibel” for a plan that remains adaptable.
planen “planen” means “the plan” and is the object being kept flexible in “holder planen fleksibel”. Use “planen” when referring to a specific plan already under discussion.
fleksibel “fleksibel” means “flexible” and describes the plan in “holder planen fleksibel”. The expression is useful when saying that an arrangement can adapt to changing circumstances.
Lad “Lad” means “let” in the suggestion “Lad os planlægge...”. Use “Lad os + infinitive” to suggest doing something together.
planlægge “planlægge” means “plan” and follows “Lad os” in “Lad os planlægge...”. Use “Lad os planlægge + activity” when proposing that you organize an activity together.
indenfor “indenfor” means “inside” or “indoors” in “gå indenfor”, describing movement from outside to inside. Use “gå indenfor” when telling someone to go inside or suggesting moving inside.
vejret “vejret” means “the weather” in “hvis vejret ændrer sig”. It refers to the weather already relevant to the plan; use “vejret” when discussing those conditions.
ændrer “ændrer” means “changes” in “vejret ændrer sig”. It is used together with “sig” in “ændrer sig”; use this expression when saying that the weather or another condition changes.
sig “sig” is the reflexive part of “ændrer sig”, meaning that the weather changes itself or changes state. Use “ændre sig” when describing a change in the subject’s condition.

Grammar Points

hvis + sætning

Hvis det regner senere, tager vi på café.

VES deh RY-ner seh-NAIR-uh, TAY-er vee poh ka-FAY.

If it rains later, we’ll go to a café.

Hvis introduces a condition. When the conditional clause comes first, the verb comes before the subject in the main clause: tager vi.

før + bisætning

Tjek vejrudsigten, før vi beslutter os.

CHEK VAI-uh-SIG-den, FUHR vee beh-SLOO-deh OSS.

Check the weather forecast before we decide.

Før introduces a subordinate clause meaning “before”. The reflexive verb beslutte sig uses the pronoun os with a plural subject.

Danish Vocabulary

beslutte sig verb
beh-SLOO-deh SAI to decide beslutter os
før conj
FUHR before
i morgen adv
ee MOR-en tomorrow
indendørs adv
in-en-DUHRSS indoors; indoor
lave verb
LEH-vuh to do; to make
noget pron
NOH-uhth something
om morgenen phrase
um MOR-en-en in the morning
sol noun
SOHL sun; sunshine
stå verb
STOHR to say; to state; to stand står
tjekke verb
CHEK-uh to check Tjek
udendørs adv
OO-en-DUHRSS outdoors; outdoor
vejrudsigt noun
VAI-uh-SIGT weather forecast vejrudsigten
Gender
common

Quiz

Word Order

Arrange the words in the correct order.

Check the forecast before we decide.

Show AnswerTjek vejrudsigten, før vi beslutter os.

That keeps the plan flexible.

Show AnswerSå holder vi planen fleksibel.

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

to check

Show AnswerTjek

something

Show Answernoget

outdoors; outdoor

Show Answerudendørs

indoors; indoor

Show Answerindendørs