Renegotiating a deadline with clear priorities | Learn Danish in English

Danish lesson set in a contemporary Copenhagen everyday setting: At work, two colleagues plan how to request a short extension after a project scope expands..

EN → DA / Level: B1

About This Lesson

Use Renegotiating a deadline with clear priorities to practice Danish conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

A

Deadline er i morgen, men projektets omfang blev udvidet i morges.

DED-lajn air ee MOR-ən, men proh-YEK-dets OM-fahng blehv oo-VEE-thət ee MOR-əs. The deadline is tomorrow, but the project scope expanded this morning.
B

Hvilken del har kunden brug for først?

VIL-ken del har KOO-nən broo forh FERST? Which part does the client need first?
A

Kunden har brug for opsummeringen først, men de detaljerede diagrammer kan vente.

KOO-nən har broo forh op-soo-MAIR-ing-en FERST, men dee deh-tal-YAIR-eh dee-ah-GRAM-er kan VEN-tə. They need the summary first, but the detailed charts can wait.
B

Så bed om en kort forlængelse af fristen for de mindre vigtige dele.

Soh behd om en koht foh-LENG-el-sə ahv FRIS-den for dee MEN-reh VIK-teh-gə DAY-leh. Then ask for a short extension on the lower-priority sections.
A

Jeg vil ikke have, at det skal lyde, som om jeg ikke kunne styre min tid.

YAI vil IK-keh HAI-və, ah deh skal LOO-thə, som om YAI IK-keh KOO-nə STY-rə min TEETH. I don't want it to sound like I failed to manage my time.
B

Formulér det med fokus på kvalitet og de nye oplysninger, du har fået.

for-moo-LAIR deh meh FOH-goos poh kva-lee-TAIT oh dee NOO-eh op-LOOS-ning-er, doo har FOH-ehd. Frame it around quality and the new information you received.
A

Jeg kan sige, at jeg vil levere opsummeringen i morgen og diagrammerne dagen efter.

YAI kan SEE-eh, ah YAI vil leh-VAIR-eh op-soo-MAIR-ing-en ee MOR-ən oh dee-ah-GRAM-er-neh DAI-en EF-ter. I can say I'll deliver the summary tomorrow and the charts the following day.
B

Det giver kunden en realistisk tidsplan og et klart valg.

Deh GEE-vər KOO-nən en ray-ah-LIS-disg TAIDS-plahn oh ehd klard VALG. That gives them a realistic timeline and a clear choice.
A

Jeg sender beskeden snart, så kunden har tid til at svare.

YAI SEN-er beh-SKAY-den snart, soh KOO-nən har TEETH tel ah SVAIR-eh. I'll send the message soon so they have time to respond.
B

På den måde er ændringen i tidsplanen tydelig inden i morgen.

Poh den MOH-eh air EN-reeng-en ee TAIDS-plahn-en TOO-theh-lee EN-en ee MOR-ən. That way, the schedule change is clear before tomorrow.

Word by Word

Deadline “Deadline” means the deadline or due date here. It is used as the subject of “Deadline er i morgen” in a work context.
er “er” means is and links “Deadline” with the time expression “i morgen”. Reuse “X er …” to state what something is or when it is.
i In “i morgen”, “i” introduces the time expression meaning tomorrow. Reuse “i” in established time expressions such as “i morgen”.
morgen In “i morgen”, “morgen” contributes the meaning tomorrow. The full expression “i morgen” is used to refer to the next day.
men “men” means but and introduces a contrast between the deadline and the expanded project scope. Reuse it to connect two contrasting statements.
projektets “projektets” means the project’s and shows that the scope belongs to or concerns the project. The ending -s links a noun with something associated with it, as in “projektets omfang”.
omfang “omfang” means scope or extent, here referring to how much the project includes. It is useful in work discussions about the size or reach of a project.
blev In “blev udvidet”, “blev” presents the expansion as something that happened. Together with “udvidet”, it forms the expression that the project scope was expanded.
udvidet “udvidet” means expanded in “blev udvidet”, describing the project scope as made larger. It can be used after “blev” to describe something that was expanded.
morges In “i morges”, “morges” means this morning. Reuse the full expression “i morges” to identify something that happened earlier today.
Hvilken “Hvilken” means which and asks the listener to select one part. It is used directly before the noun in “Hvilken del”.
del “del” means part or section, here referring to one section of the project. It can identify one component of a larger task or whole.
har In “har brug for”, “har” contributes to the expression meaning needs. Reuse the full pattern “har brug for + thing” when stating what someone needs.
kunden “kunden” means the client or customer. It is the definite form of “kunde” and is used here as the person who needs the project material.
brug In “har brug for”, “brug” is part of the expression meaning need rather than the separate idea of use. The reusable expression is “har brug for + thing”.
for In “har brug for”, “for” completes the expression meaning need and introduces the thing needed. Reuse the complete pattern “har brug for + thing”.
først “først” means first and marks priority in “har brug for først”. It is useful when saying which task, item, or action should come before others.
opsummeringen “opsummeringen” means the summary. It is the definite form of “opsummering” and refers to the specific summary the client needs first.
de “de” marks the following noun phrase as specific and plural in “de detaljerede diagrammer”. Reuse “de” before a plural noun phrase when referring to specified items.
detaljerede “detaljerede” means detailed and describes the charts in “de detaljerede diagrammer”. It is placed before the noun it describes.
diagrammer “diagrammer” means charts or diagrams and refers to the project’s detailed visual material. It names multiple charts in the dialogue.
kan In “kan vente”, “kan” means can and expresses that the charts are able to wait. Reuse “kan + infinitive”, as in “kan vente”.
vente In “kan vente”, “vente” means wait, so the charts do not need to be delivered immediately. It follows “kan” in this construction.
Så “Så” means then or so and introduces the suggested next action based on the previous information. It is useful at the beginning of a sentence that draws a practical conclusion.
bed “bed” means ask or request and gives the instruction to request an extension. It is used in the pattern “bed om + thing”.
om In “bed om”, “om” introduces what is being requested. Later, in “som om”, it helps introduce an imagined comparison, meaning as if.
en “en” is the indefinite article before “kort forlængelse”, meaning a short extension. Reuse “en” before a singular noun in this type of noun phrase.
kort “kort” means short and limits the requested extension. It is placed before the noun in “en kort forlængelse”.
forlængelse “forlængelse” means extension, here an extension of the deadline. The phrase “bed om en kort forlængelse” is useful when requesting a small amount of additional time.
af In “forlængelse af fristen”, “af” links the extension to the deadline it concerns. Reuse “noun + af + noun” to express this type of relationship.
fristen “fristen” means the deadline or time limit. It is the definite form used in “forlængelse af fristen”, referring to the specific deadline already under discussion.
mindre In “mindre vigtige”, “mindre” means less or lower and reduces the degree of importance. Reuse “mindre + adjective” to express a lower degree.
vigtige “vigtige” means important and describes the project sections in “de mindre vigtige dele”. With “mindre”, it identifies sections with lower priority.
dele “dele” means parts or sections and refers to multiple project sections. It is the plural form used in “de mindre vigtige dele”.
Jeg “Jeg” means I and identifies the speaker as the person making the plan or promise. It is used as the subject at the beginning of the sentence.
vil “vil” expresses want in “vil ikke have” and intention in “vil levere”. Reuse “vil + verb” to express a desire, intention, or planned action.
ikke “ikke” means not and negates the surrounding statement, as in “vil ikke have” and “ikke kunne styre”. It is used to state that something is not wanted or was not possible.
have In “vil ikke have”, “have” contributes to the expression meaning want to have or want something to be the case. Reuse “vil have, at …” to express what you want to happen.
at Here, “at” introduces a that-clause in “have, at det skal lyde” and “sige, at jeg …”. It connects a thought, wish, or statement with the content that follows.
det In “det skal lyde”, “det” refers to the proposed message or request. In “Det giver kunden …”, “Det” refers to the plan just described.
skal In “det skal lyde”, “skal” expresses how something should sound. Reuse “skal + infinitive”, as in “skal lyde”, to describe an expected or intended result.
lyde “lyde” means sound in “det skal lyde”, referring to the impression created by the message. It follows “skal” in this construction.
som In “som om”, “som” introduces a comparison meaning as or like. The full expression “som om” is used to describe an impression that is treated as if it were true.
kunne In “ikke kunne styre min tid”, “kunne” means be able to or could and expresses inability in the situation. Reuse “kunne + infinitive”, as in “kunne styre”.
styre In “styre min tid”, “styre” means manage or control, specifically manage one’s time. It is used with an object in the pattern “styre + thing”.
min “min” means my and shows that the time belongs to or is associated with the speaker. It is placed before the noun in “min tid”.
tid “tid” means time, here the time the speaker is responsible for managing. The phrase “styre min tid” is useful when discussing time management.
Formulér “Formulér” means formulate or frame and gives a direct instruction about how to present the request. It is used with the object “det” in “Formulér det med fokus på …”.
med In “med fokus på”, “med” means with and introduces the way the message should be framed. Reuse “med + noun” to describe an accompanying approach or feature.
fokus In “med fokus på kvalitet”, “fokus” means focus or emphasis. Reuse “med fokus på + topic” to say what a message or activity emphasizes.
på In “fokus på kvalitet”, “på” introduces the topic of the focus. In “På den måde”, it contributes to the expression meaning in that way.
kvalitet “kvalitet” means quality and is presented as the main reason or consideration for the request. It is the topic introduced by “fokus på”.
og “og” means and and links “kvalitet” with “de nye oplysninger”. Reuse it to join equivalent words, phrases, or ideas.
nye “nye” means new and describes the information recently received. It is placed before the noun in “de nye oplysninger”.
oplysninger “oplysninger” means information or details, here the new information received by the speaker. It refers to the information that changed the project situation.
du “du” means you and identifies the person who received the information in “du har fået”. It is the subject of that clause.
fået In “du har fået”, “fået” means received or gotten, referring to information coming to someone. Reuse “har fået + thing” when describing something someone has received.
sige “sige” means say and is used in “kan sige, at …” to introduce the proposed wording. Reuse “sige, at + clause” when reporting or presenting what someone will say.
leverе In the dialogue, the corresponding Danish form is “levere”, meaning deliver. It is used in “vil levere” for the planned delivery of the summary and charts.
diagrammerne “diagrammerne” means the charts or diagrams and refers to the specific charts to be delivered later. It is the definite plural form used as the object of “levere”.
dagen In “dagen efter”, “dagen” means the day and refers to the specific day following tomorrow. The full phrase means the following day.
efter In “dagen efter”, “efter” means after or following and shows the time relationship between the two delivery dates. Reuse it in a phrase that identifies something as following another time or event.
giver “giver” means gives and describes what the proposed timeline provides the client. It is used in the pattern “giver + recipient + thing”, as in “giver kunden en realistisk tidsplan”.
realistisk “realistisk” means realistic and describes the timeline as achievable or practical. It is placed before “tidsplan” in the dialogue.
tidsplan “tidsplan” means timeline or schedule and refers to the proposed delivery plan. It is the thing given to the client in “giver kunden en realistisk tidsplan”.
et “et” is the indefinite article before “klart valg”, meaning a clear choice. It is used before the singular noun in this noun phrase.
klart “klart” means clear and describes the choice in “et klart valg”. It is placed before the noun it describes.
valg “valg” means choice or option and refers to the client’s clear decision between delivery possibilities. It is used in the phrase “et klart valg”.
sender “sender” means send in the sentence about sending the message soon. Reuse “subject + sender + object”, as in “Jeg sender beskeden”.
beskeden “beskeden” means the message and refers to the specific message the speaker plans to send. It is the definite form used as the object of “sender”.
snart “snart” means soon and places the planned sending in the near future. It can be used to say that an action will happen shortly.
til In “tid til at svare”, “til” introduces the action for which there is time. Reuse the pattern “tid til at + infinitive” when describing time available for an action.
svare “svare” means respond or reply in “tid til at svare”. It follows “at” in the infinitive expression “til at svare”.
måde In “På den måde”, “måde” means way or manner. The full expression is used to explain the result of following the plan.
ændringen “ændringen” means the change and refers specifically to the change in the schedule. It is the definite form used in “ændringen i tidsplanen”.
tidsplanen “tidsplanen” means the schedule or timeline and refers to the specific schedule being changed. It follows “i” in “ændringen i tidsplanen”.
tydelig “tydelig” means clear and describes the schedule change as understandable or evident. It is used after “er” in “ændringen … er tydelig”.
inden In “inden i morgen”, “inden” means before or by and sets a time limit. Reuse “inden + time expression” to state when something must be clear or completed.
respondere “respondere” is listed in the worklist, but it does not appear in the supplied Danish dialogue. The dialogue uses “svare” for responding, so no further explanation of “respondere” can be grounded in this lesson.

Grammar Points

-en/-et/-ene: bestemt form af substantiver

fristen; opsummeringen; diagrammerne

FRIS-den; op-soo-MAIR-ing-en; dee-ah-GRAM-er-neh

the deadline; the summary; the charts

Dansk viser ofte bestemthed med en endelse på substantivet: -en for fælleskøn, -et for intetkøn og -ene i flertal.

-s-genitiv

projektets omfang

proh-YEK-dets OM-fahng

the project's scope

Ejerskab dannes ofte ved at sætte -s på ejeren. Her betyder projektets “of the project” eller “the project’s”.

Danish Vocabulary

deadline noun
DED-lajn deadline
Gender
common

Deadline er i morgen.

del noun
DEL part; section delen
Gender
common

Hvilken del har kunden brug for først?

detaljeret adj
deh-tal-YAIR-ed detailed detaljerede

de detaljerede diagrammer

diagram noun
dee-ah-GRAM chart diagrammerne
Gender
common

de detaljerede diagrammer

forlængelse noun
foh-LENG-el-sə extension en kort forlængelse
Gender
common

bed om en kort forlængelse

frist noun
FRISD deadline; time limit fristen
Gender
common

forlængelse af fristen

have brug for phrase
HAI-və broo forh need har brug for

Kunden har brug for opsummeringen først.

kunde noun
KOO-nə client kunden
Gender
common

kunden har brug for først

omfang noun
OM-fahng scope projektets omfang
Gender
neuter

projektets omfang blev udvidet

opsummering noun
op-soo-MAIR-ing summary opsummeringen
Gender
common

Kunden har brug for opsummeringen først.

udvide verb
oo-VEE-thə expand udvidet

blev udvidet

vente verb
VEN-tə wait

diagrammerne kan vente

Quiz

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

detailed

Show Answerdetaljerede

chart

Show Answerdiagrammerne

part; section

Show Answerdelen

expand

Show Answerudvidet