Resolving a Small Disagreement at Work | Learn Danish in English

Danish lesson set in a contemporary Copenhagen everyday setting: At work, two teammates compare assumptions, check project notes, and agree on a focused compromise for a client task..

EN → DA / Level: B1

About This Lesson

Use Resolving a Small Disagreement at Work to practice Danish conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

A

Jeg tror, vi er uenige, fordi vi gjorde os forskellige antagelser.

yai TROR, vee air oo-AY-nee-uh, foh-THEE vee YOR-uh oss foh-SKEH-luh an-TAH-ool-suh. I think we disagree because we made different assumptions.
B

Jeg troede, at kunden først ville have en enkel version.

yai TROH-thuh, eh KOO-nən furst VIL-uh HAY-vuh en ENG-kəl vair-SHOHN. I thought the client wanted a simple version first.
A

Jeg troede, at kunden forventede en komplet version med alle funktioner.

yai TROH-thuh, eh KOO-nən for-VENT-uh en kom-PLEHD vair-SHOHN meh AL-luh fong-shoh-NAY-uh. I thought they expected a complete version with every feature.
B

Lad os tjekke noterne i stedet for at diskutere ud fra vores hukommelse.

lah oss CHEK-uh NOH-thuh-nuh ee STAY-thuh fohr dis-koo-TAY-uh ooth fraw VOH-uhs hoo-KOM-uhls-uh. Let's check the notes instead of arguing from memory.
A

Noterne siger, at hastighed er vigtigst, men at en avanceret funktion stadig er nødvendig.

NOH-thuh-nuh SEE-uh, eh HAS-tee-hayth air VIG-tist, men eh ah-van-SAY-uth fong-shohn STAY-thee air NUR-ven-dee. The notes say speed matters most, but one advanced feature is still required.
B

En enklere version, der indeholder den funktion, lyder som det rigtige kompromis.

en ENG-kluh-ruh vair-SHOHN, dair in-HOHL-uh den fong-shohn, LOO-uh som deh RIK-tee kom-proh-MEES. A simpler version that includes that feature sounds like the right compromise.
A

Det kan jeg acceptere, hvis vi forklarer kompromiset tydeligt.

deh kan yai ak-sep-TAY-uh, viss vee for-KLAY-uh kom-proh-MEES-uh TEW-thuh-lee. I can accept that if we explain the trade-off clearly.
B

Vi kan tage udgangspunkt i kundens prioriteter.

vee kan TAY-uh ooth-gangs-POONGST ee KOO-nens proh-ree-tay-tuh. We can frame it around the client's priorities.
A

Jeg opdaterer opgavebeskrivelsen, så den passer til beslutningen.

yai op-DAY-uh OP-gah-vuh-beh-SKREE-vuhls-en, soh den PASS-uh tell beh-SLOOT-nee-ən. I'll update the task description to match the decision.
B

Så burde uenigheden ikke forsinke projektet.

soh BOO-uh oo-AY-nee-HAY-thən EG-uh foh-SENG-uh proh-YEK-tuh. Then the disagreement should not slow the project down.

Word by Word

Jeg “Jeg” means I, referring to the speaker in “Jeg tror”. It is used as the subject when the speaker gives a thought or opinion.
tror “tror” means think or believe in “Jeg tror”. It introduces the speaker’s view, and it commonly appears before a statement such as “vi er uenige”.
vi “vi” means we, referring to the two teammates together. It is used as the subject of “vi er uenige” and “vi gjorde os forskellige antagelser”.
er “er” means are in “vi er uenige”. It links “vi” with the description of being in disagreement.
uenige “uenige” describes the people in “vi er uenige” as disagreeing or not holding the same view. It is used after “er” to describe the state of the teammates, and the adjective form matches the plural subject “vi”.
fordi “fordi” means because and introduces the reason for the disagreement. It connects “vi er uenige” with “vi gjorde os forskellige antagelser”.
gjorde “gjorde” means made or did in “vi gjorde os forskellige antagelser”. Here it expresses that the teammates made assumptions, and it is the past form used for that earlier action.
os “os” means ourselves in “gjorde os forskellige antagelser”. It contributes the reference back to the teammates inside the expression about making assumptions.
forskellige “forskellige” means different and describes the assumptions as not being the same. It is placed before the plural noun “antagelser”.
antagelser “antagelser” means assumptions in “forskellige antagelser”. It refers to ideas accepted as a basis before the teammates checked the project notes.
troede “troede” means thought in “Jeg troede”. It presents an earlier belief about what the client wanted or expected.
at “at” means that in “Jeg troede, at kunden...”. It introduces the statement that was believed, rather than marking an infinitive in this sentence.
kunden “kunden” means the client, referring to the specific client in the project. It is the subject of what the client wanted and expected.
først “først” means first in “kunden først ville have en enkel version”. It places the simple version at the beginning of the planned sequence.
ville “ville” expresses wanted in “kunden først ville have”. It describes the client’s intended choice in the subordinate clause.
have “have” means have in “ville have en enkel version”. It follows “ville” and expresses what the client wanted to have.
en “en” is the indefinite article before the singular noun “version”, giving the meaning a version. The capitalized “En” at the start of the later sentence has the same function, with capitalization caused by sentence position.
enkel “enkel” means simple and describes the version as uncomplicated or limited in scope. It is placed directly before “version”.
version “version” means version, referring to a form of the client’s task or product. In “en enkel version”, it is the thing the client wanted first.
forventede “forventede” means expected in “kunden forventede”. It describes what the client was believed to expect from the complete version.
komplet “komplet” means complete and describes the version as including everything expected. It appears directly before “version”.
med “med” means with and introduces what the complete version contains. In “med alle funktioner”, it links the version to its features.
alle “alle” means all or every in “alle funktioner”. It indicates that the reference is to the full set of features, not just one.
funktioner “funktioner” means features or functions in “alle funktioner”. It refers to the individual capabilities included in the complete version.
Lad “Lad” begins the suggestion “Lad os tjekke...”, meaning let us. Together with “os” and “tjekke”, it invites the other person to do something together.
tjekke “tjekke” means check in “Lad os tjekke noterne”. It is the action suggested after “Lad os” and takes “noterne” as its object.
noterne “noterne” means the notes, referring to the project notes already available. It is the object of “tjekke” in “tjekke noterne”.
i stedet for “i stedet for” means instead of and presents an alternative: checking the notes rather than arguing from memory. In this expression, “i” contributes in, “stedet” means the place or position, and “for” contributes for; together they form the meaning instead of.
diskutere “diskutere” means argue or discuss in “i stedet for at diskutere”. It names the action that the speakers propose not doing.
ud “ud” means out in “ud fra vores hukommelse”. Together with “fra”, it helps express reasoning from a source or basis.
fra “fra” means from in “ud fra vores hukommelse”. The expression “ud fra” indicates that the discussion would be based on their memory.
vores “vores” means our in “vores hukommelse”. It shows that the memory belongs to the speakers together.
hukommelse “hukommelse” means memory in “ud fra vores hukommelse”. It refers to what the teammates remember rather than to the written notes.
siger “siger” means says in “Noterne siger”. It presents the notes as giving or stating information about the project.
hastighed “hastighed” means speed. In “hastighed er vigtigst”, it is the project quality described as having the highest priority.
vigtigst “vigtigst” means most important in “hastighed er vigtigst”. It marks speed as the highest priority among the considerations being compared.
men “men” means but and introduces a qualification to the importance of speed. It contrasts the priority of speed with the continuing requirement for one advanced feature.
avanceret “avanceret” means advanced and describes the feature as involving more developed or sophisticated functionality. It appears before “funktion”.
funktion “funktion” means feature or function in “en avanceret funktion”. It refers to the single capability that must still be included.
stadig “stadig” means still in “stadig er nødvendig”. It shows that the feature remains required despite the priority given to speed.
nødvendig “nødvendig” means necessary or required. In “en avanceret funktion stadig er nødvendig”, it describes the feature as something that cannot be left out.
enklere “enklere” means simpler in “En enklere version”. It compares this version with the more complete version previously discussed.
der “der” means that or which in “der indeholder den funktion”. It introduces information describing which version is being proposed.
indeholder “indeholder” means includes or contains. In “der indeholder den funktion”, it states what the simpler version contains.
den “den” points to the specific feature in “den funktion”, namely the advanced feature already mentioned. It helps identify that particular function rather than an unspecified one.
lyder “lyder” means sounds in “lyder som det rigtige kompromis”. It presents the proposed version as an assessment or impression.
som “som” means like or as after “lyder”. The expression “lyder som det rigtige kompromis” compares the proposal with the suitable compromise.
det “det” is part of the noun phrase “det rigtige kompromis”, meaning the right compromise. It identifies the compromise as a specific one being considered.
rigtige “rigtige” means right or correct in “det rigtige kompromis”. It describes the compromise as the suitable choice for the situation.
kompromis “kompromis” means compromise. Here it refers to the agreed balance between a simpler, faster version and the required advanced feature.
kan “kan” means can in “Det kan jeg acceptere”. It expresses that the speaker is able or willing to accept the proposal.
acceptere “acceptere” means accept in “kan jeg acceptere”. It follows “kan” and names what the speaker is willing to do.
hvis “hvis” means if and introduces the condition for accepting the compromise. The condition is “vi forklarer kompromiset tydeligt”.
forklarer “forklarer” means explain in “vi forklarer kompromiset”. It describes the action the teammates must take to make the compromise clear.
kompromiset “kompromiset” means the compromise or the trade-off. It refers to the specific balance they have just agreed on and need to explain.
tydeligt “tydeligt” means clearly in “forklarer kompromiset tydeligt”. It describes how the compromise should be explained so that its consequences are understood.
tage udgangspunkt i “tage udgangspunkt i” means take as a starting point or frame something around. In the phrase, “tage” contributes take, “udgangspunkt” means starting point, and “i” introduces the basis; the complete pattern is followed by “kundens prioriteter”.
kundens “kundens” means the client’s in “kundens prioriteter”. It marks the priorities as belonging to the client.
prioriteter “prioriteter” means priorities. In “kundens prioriteter”, it refers to the factors the client considers most important.
opdaterer “opdaterer” means update in “Jeg opdaterer opgavebeskrivelsen”. With “Jeg” as the subject, it states what the speaker will do to the task description.
opgavebeskrivelsen “opgavebeskrivelsen” means the task description. It is the document or text that the speaker will update to reflect the decision.
så “så” means so that in “så den passer til beslutningen”. It introduces the intended result of updating the task description.
passer “passer” means fits or matches in “passer til beslutningen”. It describes the task description as corresponding to the decision.
til “til” means to or with in the expression “passer til beslutningen”. It links what matches with the decision it matches.
beslutningen “beslutningen” means the decision. It refers to the specific compromise or conclusion reached by the teammates.
burde “burde” means should in “burde ... ikke forsinke”. It expresses the expected result that the disagreement will not delay the project.
uenigheden “uenigheden” means the disagreement. It refers to the specific difference of opinion discussed earlier.
ikke “ikke” means not and negates “forsinke”. It states that the disagreement is not expected to delay the project.
forsinke “forsinke” means slow down or delay in “ikke forsinke projektet”. It follows “burde” and names the unwanted effect on the project.
projektet “projektet” means the project. It is the object of “forsinke”, identifying what should continue without delay.

Grammar Points

i stedet for at + infinitiv

I stedet for at diskutere ud fra hukommelse.

ee STAY-thuh fohr eh dis-koo-TAY-uh ooth fraw hoo-KOM-uhls-uh.

Instead of discussing from memory.

Efter “i stedet for” bruges “at” plus infinitiv, når man beskriver en alternativ handling.

-ere: komparativ

Enklere passer til kunden.

ENG-kluh-ruh PASS-uh tell KOO-nən.

Simpler suits the client.

Adjektivet “enkel” får endelsen “-ere” i komparativ: “enklere” betyder “simpler”.

Danish Vocabulary

antagelser noun
an-TAH-ool-suh assumptions
Gender
common
enkel adj
ENG-kəl simple
Gender
common
forskellige adj
foh-SKEH-luh different
forventede verb
for-VENT-uh-thuh expected
funktioner noun
fong-shoh-NAY-uh features
Gender
common
først adv
furst first
komplet adj
kom-PLEHD complete
Gender
common
kunden noun
KOO-nən the client
Gender
common
tjekke verb
CHEK-uh check
troede verb
TROH-thuh thought
uenige adj
oo-AY-nee-uh disagreeing
ville have phrase
VIL-uh HAY-vuh wanted to have

Quiz

Word Order

Arrange the words in the correct order.

Then the disagreement should not slow the project down.

Show AnswerSå burde uenigheden ikke forsinke projektet.

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

the client

Show Answerkunden

disagreeing

Show Answeruenige

simple

Show Answerenkel

first

Show Answerførst