Finding another route after a cancelled train | Learn Danish in English

Danish lesson set in a contemporary Copenhagen everyday setting: At a transport station, a passenger asks staff for another route after a cancelled train threatens a connection..

EN → DA / Level: B1

About This Lesson

Use Finding another route after a cancelled train to practice Danish conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

A

Mit tog er blevet aflyst.

mit toh er BLEH-vet ah-FLIST My train has been cancelled.
A

Jeg skal snart nå et forbindelsestog.

yai sgel snart noh et for-BIN-els-eh-toh I need to catch a connecting train soon.
B

Jeg kan hjælpe dig med at finde en anden rute.

yai kan YEL-peh die meh at FIN-eh en AHN-en ROO-deh I can help you find another route.
A

Tavlen viser et eksprestog, der afgår fra en anden perron.

TAH-wlen VEE-ser et ex-PRESS-toh, dair ah-GOHR frah en AHN-en peh-RON The board shows an express train leaving from a different platform.
B

Det kunne fungere, men jeg vil tjekke, om din billet gælder til det.

deh KOO-neh foon-GEH-reh, men yai vil CHEH-keh, om deen bee-LET GEL-er teel deh That could work, but I'll check whether your ticket is valid for it.
A

Skal jeg beholde denne billet eller få en ny?

sgel yai be-HOL-deh DEN-eh bee-LET ELL-er foh en noo Should I stay with this ticket or get a new one?
B

Du kan bruge denne billet, fordi dit oprindelige tog blev aflyst.

doo kan BROO-eh DEN-eh bee-LET, for-DEE deet oh-PRIN-de-lee-eh toh bleh ah-FLIST You can use this ticket because your original train was cancelled.
A

Vil jeg stadig nå mit forbindelsestog på den næste station?

veel yai STAY-lee noh meet for-BIN-els-eh-toh poh den NEST-eh stah-SHOWN Will I still make my connection at the next station?
B

Det burde du kunne, men gå til perronen nu og tjek igen, når du ankommer.

deh BOO-theh doo KOO-neh, men goh teel peh-RON-en noo oh CHEK ee-GEN, nohr doo ahn-KOM-er You should, but head to the platform now and check again when you arrive.

Word by Word

Mit In "Mit tog", "Mit" means "my" and identifies the speaker as the owner or associated passenger. A reusable pattern is "Mit + noun" when referring to something connected with the speaker.
tog In "Mit tog", "tog" means "train", the vehicle that has been cancelled. It is useful in transport conversations when naming a train or discussing a journey.
er In "er blevet aflyst", "er" helps form the statement that the train has been cancelled. It is used together with "blevet" and "aflyst", rather than carrying the whole meaning alone.
blevet In "er blevet aflyst", "blevet" helps express that the train has ended up in a cancelled state. Its citation form is "blive"; here it is used with "er" and "aflyst" in the passive construction.
aflyst In "er blevet aflyst", "aflyst" means "cancelled" and describes what happened to the train. The citation form is "aflyse"; this form is useful when reporting a cancelled service.
Jeg In "Jeg skal snart nå", "Jeg" means "I" and refers to the passenger speaking. It is used as the subject before the action or situation being described.
skal In "Jeg skal snart nå", "skal" expresses the passenger's need to catch the connecting train; in "Skal jeg beholde", it introduces a question about what the passenger should do. A common pattern is "skal + verb" for a required or considered action.
snart In "skal snart nå", "snart" means "soon" and shows that the connection must be reached shortly. It is useful for expressing an action expected in the near future.
nå In "nå et forbindelsestog", "nå" means "catch" or "reach" the connecting train in time. A reusable pattern is "nå + transport or destination" when talking about reaching it before it is too late.
et In "et forbindelsestog", "et" is the indefinite article meaning "a" or "an" before the noun. It introduces one connecting train that has not been identified more specifically.
forbindelsestog In "et forbindelsestog", "forbindelsestog" means "connecting train", the train the passenger must catch after changing routes. It is useful when discussing a train that continues a journey from another service.
kan In "Jeg kan hjælpe" and "Du kan bruge", "kan" expresses ability or permission in the situation. A reusable pattern is "kan + verb" for saying that someone can do something.
hjælpe In "kan hjælpe dig", "hjælpe" means "help" and describes the staff member's offer of assistance. A common pattern is "hjælpe nogen med at + verb" when offering help with an activity.
dig In "hjælpe dig med at finde", "dig" means "you" as the person receiving the help. It follows the verb in this object position, so the pattern is "hjælpe dig med at + verb".
med In "hjælpe dig med at finde", "med" introduces the activity the help concerns. The reusable construction is "hjælpe nogen med at + verb", meaning to help someone do something.
at In "at finde", "at" marks the verb that follows as an infinitive after the activity introduced by "med". The pattern "med at + verb" appears here inside "hjælpe dig med at finde".
finde In "at finde en anden rute", "finde" means "find" and refers to locating an alternative route. Its citation form is "finde"; a useful pattern is "finde + object", such as a route or solution.
en In "en anden rute", "en" is the indefinite article meaning "a" or "an". It introduces one alternative route that is not yet identified more specifically.
anden In "en anden rute", "anden" means "another" or "different" and contrasts the proposed route with the cancelled train's route. A reusable pattern is "en anden + noun" when requesting or suggesting an alternative.
rute In "en anden rute", "rute" means "route", the alternative way of travelling offered by the staff member. It is useful at stations when discussing different ways to reach a destination.
Tavlen In "Tavlen viser", "Tavlen" means "the board", specifically the station information board. It is the definite form related to "tavle" and is useful when referring to a particular board visible at the station.
viser In "Tavlen viser et eksprestog", "viser" means "shows" or "displays" the train information. Its citation form is "vise"; a common pattern is "something viser + information or option".
eksprestog In "et eksprestog", "eksprestog" means "express train", the proposed alternative service. It is useful when distinguishing a faster or specially identified train on a station board.
der In "et eksprestog, der afgår", "der" introduces information about the express train: it is the train that departs from another platform. A reusable pattern is "noun, der + verb" to add a description of that noun.
afgår In "der afgår fra en anden perron", "afgår" means "departs" and describes the express train leaving. Its citation form is "afgå"; a useful transport pattern is "afgå fra + place".
fra In "afgår fra en anden perron", "fra" means "from" and identifies the platform where the train departs. The pattern "afgå fra + place" is useful for giving departure information.
perron In "en anden perron", "perron" means "platform", the place from which the alternative train leaves. It is used here after "en anden" to name a different platform.
Det In "Det kunne fungere", "Det" refers to the suggested alternative route or train option. In "til det", the corresponding form refers back to that travel option; it points to something already mentioned rather than naming it again.
kunne In "Det kunne fungere", "kunne" presents the proposed option as something that might work. It is useful for making a cautious assessment instead of stating that the result is certain.
fungere In "kunne fungere", "fungere" means "work" or "function" in the sense of being a workable travel solution. It follows "kunne" in the pattern "kunne + verb".
men In "men jeg vil tjekke", "men" means "but" and contrasts the possible solution with the need to verify the ticket. It is useful for connecting a positive possibility with a limitation or next step.
vil In "jeg vil tjekke", "vil" expresses the staff member's intention to check; in "Vil jeg stadig nå", it introduces a question about whether the passenger will still make the connection. A common pattern is "vil + verb" for intention or a future-oriented question.
tjekke In "vil tjekke, om din billet gælder", "tjekke" means "check" or "verify" the ticket's validity. A reusable pattern is "tjekke, om + clause" when checking whether something is true.
om In "tjekke, om din billet gælder", "om" means "whether" and introduces the question being checked. The pattern "tjekke, om + subject + verb" is useful for verifying a condition.
din In "din billet", "din" means "your" and identifies the ticket as belonging to or being associated with the passenger. A reusable pattern is "din + noun" when referring to something connected with the person addressed.
billet In "din billet", "billet" means "ticket", the document or booking whose validity the staff member checks. It is useful in conversations about buying, keeping, or using transport tickets.
gælder In "din billet gælder til det", "gælder" means "is valid for" the proposed travel option. Its citation form is "gælde"; a useful pattern is "billet + gælder til + option" when discussing ticket validity.
til In "gælder til det", "til" means "for" and connects the ticket's validity with the proposed train or route. It is useful after "gælder" when specifying what a ticket can be used for.
beholde In "Skal jeg beholde denne billet", "beholde" means "keep" or "retain" the current ticket. It follows "skal" in the pattern "skal + verb" when asking whether to continue with an action.
denne In "denne billet", "denne" means "this" and points to the ticket the passenger already has. A reusable pattern is "denne + noun" when selecting or identifying a specific nearby item.
eller In "beholde denne billet eller få en ny", "eller" means "or" and connects the two alternatives being considered. It is useful for presenting a choice between actions or objects.
få In "eller få en ny", "få" means "get" or "obtain" a new ticket. It follows "skal" in the question and forms the alternative to keeping the current ticket.
Du In "Du kan bruge", "Du" means "you" and identifies the passenger being advised. It is the subject placed before the modal verb in this sentence.
bruge In "kan bruge denne billet", "bruge" means "use" the ticket for the alternative journey. A common pattern is "kan bruge + object" when explaining what someone is allowed or able to use.
fordi In "fordi dit oprindelige tog blev aflyst", "fordi" means "because" and introduces the reason the ticket can be used. It is useful for linking a decision or permission to its explanation.
dit In "dit oprindelige tog", "dit" means "your" and identifies the original train as connected with the passenger. A reusable pattern is "dit + noun" when referring to the person's associated item.
oprindelige In "dit oprindelige tog", "oprindelige" means "original" and identifies the train the passenger originally planned to take. It is useful before a noun when distinguishing the first option from a replacement.
blev In "blev aflyst", "blev" helps state that the cancellation happened to the original train in the past. Its citation form is "blive"; here it works together with "aflyst" in the passive construction.
stadig In "Vil jeg stadig nå", "stadig" means "still" and asks whether the connection remains possible despite the cancelled train. It is useful when checking whether an earlier plan or possibility continues to apply.
på In "på den næste station", "på" means "at" and places the connection at the next station. It is useful for locating an event or transport change at a particular station or place.
den In "den næste station", "den" means "the" and helps identify the specific next station. It appears before the descriptive word and noun in this definite phrase.
næste In "den næste station", "næste" means "next" and identifies the station following the current part of the journey. It is useful for describing the next point, stop, or stage in a sequence.
station In "den næste station", "station" means "station", the place where the passenger hopes to make the connection. It is useful in transport directions and arrival information.
burde In "Det burde du kunne", "burde" expresses that the staff member expects the passenger to be able to make the connection. The full meaning comes from the construction with "du" and "kunne", not from "burde" alone.
gå In "gå til perronen nu", "gå" means "go" or "head" toward the platform. A useful command pattern is "gå til + place" when directing someone to a location.
perronen In "gå til perronen", "perronen" means "the platform", the specific platform the passenger should reach. It is the definite form related to "perron" and refers to a known platform in the station.
nu In "gå til perronen nu", "nu" means "now" and makes the instruction immediate. It is useful when an action must happen without delay.
og In "gå til perronen nu og tjek igen", "og" means "and" and connects the instruction to go with the instruction to check. It is useful for linking two actions in sequence.
tjek In "tjek igen", "tjek" means "check" and gives a direct instruction to verify the information once more. It is useful in the pattern "tjek igen" when asking someone to confirm updated details.
igen In "tjek igen", "igen" means "again" and shows that the information should be checked one more time. It is useful when repeating an action after circumstances may have changed.
når In "når du ankommer", "når" means "when" and introduces the time at which the passenger should check again. A reusable pattern is "når + subject + verb" for an action connected to a future event.
ankommer In "når du ankommer", "ankommer" means "arrive" at the station or destination. Its citation form is "ankomme"; it is useful in the pattern "når du ankommer" when giving instructions for arrival.

Grammar Points

Subjekt + verb i nutid

Tavlen viser

TAH-wlen VEE-ser

The board shows.

Dansk nutid står ofte med -r i 3. person ental: viser, afgår og ankommer.

stadig + verb

stadig afgår

STAY-lee ah-GOHR

still departs

stadig står foran verbet for at vise, at noget fortsætter eller stadig gælder.

Danish Vocabulary

afgår verb
ah-GOHR departs; leaves
aflyst adj
ah-FLIST cancelled
eksprestog noun
ex-PRESS-toh express train
Gender
neuter
finde verb
FIN-eh find
forbindelsestog noun
for-BIN-els-eh-toh connecting train
Gender
neuter
hjælpe verb
YEL-peh help
nå verb
noh catch; reach
rute noun
ROO-deh route
Gender
common
snart adv
snahrt soon
tavlen noun
TAH-wlen the board
Gender
common
tog noun
toh train
Gender
neuter
viser verb
VEE-ser shows

Quiz

Word Order

Arrange the words in the correct order.

My train has been cancelled.

Show AnswerMit tog er blevet aflyst.

I need to catch a connecting train soon.

Show AnswerJeg skal snart nå et forbindelsestog.

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

help

Show Answerhjælpe

route

Show Answerrute

find

Show Answerfinde

soon

Show Answersnart