Renewing a library book when the online account fails | Learn Danish in English

About This Lesson

Use Renewing a library book when the online account fails to practice Danish conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

Jeg prøvede at forny lånet på min bog online, men min konto ville ikke indlæse.

yai PRUH-vuh ad foh-NOO loh-nuhth poh min boh on-LINE, men min KON-toh vil-luh ee-kuh en-LAY-suh. I tried to renew my book online, but my account wouldn't load.

Ring til biblioteket, før afleveringsfristen udløber.

RENG til bee-blee-oh-TAY-guth, fur AH-flay-rings-FRES-den ooth-LOH-wuh. Call the library before the due date passes.

Jeg er bekymret, fordi bogen skal afleveres i dag.

yai air beh-KUHM-ruth, foh-THEE boh-un skal AH-flay-rus ee DAY. I'm worried because the book is due today.

De kan måske forlænge lånet, hvis de kan se, at der var et problem med at logge ind.

dee kan moh-SKAY foh-LENG-uh loh-nuhth, ves dee kan say, ad dair vah ed proh-BLAYM med ad LOG-uh en. They may extend it if they can see there was a login problem.

Hvad nu hvis nogen har reserveret den?

veh noo viss NOH-un har reh-ser-VAY-ruth den? What if someone has reserved it?

Så kan de nok ikke forny lånet, heller ikke over telefonen.

soh kan dee nog ee-kuh foh-NOO loh-nuhth, HEL-luh ee-kuh OH-wuh teh-leh-FOH-nun. Then they probably won't be able to renew it, even by phone.

Jeg vil spørge, om der er reservationer, før jeg går ud fra, at jeg kan beholde den.

yai vel SPUR-uh, ohm dair air reh-ser-vah-SHOH-nuh, fur yai goh ooth FRAH, ad yai kan beh-HOH-luh den. I'll ask about holds before I assume I can keep it.

Hvis der er en reservation, skal du aflevere den i dag og låne den igen senere.

ves dair air en reh-ser-vah-SHOHN, skal doo AH-flay-ruh den ee DAY oh LOH-nuh den ee-GAYN SAY-nuh-ruh. If there is a hold, return it today and borrow it again later.

Jeg vil også nulstille min adgangskode, mens jeg er der.

yai vel OH-soh nool-STEL-uh min AH-thkongs-GOH-thuh, mens yai air dair. I'll reset my password while I'm there too.

Det burde gøre den næste fornyelse mindre stressende.

deh BOO-uh GUH-uh den NESS-tuh foh-NOO-uhl-suh MEN-druh STRES-uh-nuh. That should make the next renewal less stressful.

Word by Word

Jeg “Jeg” means “I” and is the subject referring to the speaker. It appears before the verb in “Jeg prøvede” and “Jeg vil spørge”. Use “Jeg” when describing your own action or plan.

prøvede “prøvede” means “tried” in “Jeg prøvede at forny”. It describes an attempt that happened before the speaker reports it. The reusable pattern is “prøve at” followed by an action, such as trying to renew something.

at “at” marks the action that follows “prøvede” in “prøvede at forny”. It links the attempt to what the speaker tried to do. Use “prøve at” before an action you attempted.

forny “forny” means “renew” in “at forny lånet”. Here it refers to extending the library loan. Use “forny lånet” when asking to keep a borrowed book for longer.

lånet “lånet” means “the loan” or “the loan period” in “forny lånet på min bog”. The form refers to the borrowing arrangement connected with the book, not simply to the book itself. “Forny lånet” is a useful library expression.

på “på” connects “lånet” with the book in “lånet på min bog”. Here it helps identify which loan is meant. Use “på” in this type of phrase when relating something to a particular item.

min “min” means “my” and identifies the book as belonging to or being borrowed by the speaker in “min bog”. It comes before the noun it describes. Use “min” before something you are referring to as yours.

bog “bog” means “book” in “min bog”. It is the library item whose loan the speaker is trying to renew. In a library conversation, “bog” can be used when identifying a borrowed item.

online “online” means “online” and describes how the speaker tried to renew the loan. It follows the action in “forny lånet på min bog online”. Use it after an activity to say that the activity was done through the internet.

men “men” means “but” and introduces a contrast between trying to renew the loan and the account failing to load. It connects the two parts of “Jeg prøvede ..., men ...”. Use “men” when the second statement conflicts with or limits the first.

konto “konto” means “account” in “min konto”. Here it is the online account needed for the renewal. Use “konto” with a possessive such as “min konto” when identifying someone’s account.

ville “ville” means “would” in “ville ikke indlæse”. With “ikke” and the infinitive, it describes the account failing or refusing to load. Use “ville ikke” before an action that did not happen as expected.

ikke “ikke” means “not” and negates the loading action in “ville ikke indlæse”. It appears before the infinitive after “ville”. Use “ikke” to mark that an action or situation does not happen.

indlæse “indlæse” means “load” in “konto ville ikke indlæse”. It refers to the account page or account information becoming available. Use it after “ville ikke” when a page or account will not load.

Ring “Ring” means “call” and gives the instruction in “Ring til biblioteket”. It is the form used to tell someone to make a phone call. Use “Ring til” before the person or institution you want someone to call.

til “til” means “to” in “Ring til biblioteket” and introduces the target of the call. The reusable pattern is “ringe til” followed by a person or institution. It is useful when directing someone to call a service.

biblioteket “biblioteket” means “the library” in “Ring til biblioteket”. It identifies the institution the speaker should contact. “Ring til biblioteket” is a practical expression for contacting library staff.

før “før” means “before” and introduces the time condition in “før afleveringsfristen udløber”. It tells the listener to call earlier than the deadline. Use “før” followed by an event or clause when setting an earlier time.

afleveringsfristen “afleveringsfristen” means “the return deadline” or “the due date”. In the dialogue it is the deadline that may expire before the library is contacted. Use it with “udløber” when talking about a return deadline ending.

udløber “udløber” means “expires” or “comes to an end” in “afleveringsfristen udløber”. The subject is the return deadline, so the meaning is that the due date passes. Use “fristen udløber” for a deadline that is reaching its end.

er “er” means “am” in “Jeg er bekymret”. It links the speaker with the state described by “bekymret”. Use “Jeg er” before an adjective when describing your current state.

bekymret “bekymret” means “worried” in “Jeg er bekymret”. The speaker uses it to express concern about the book being due today. Use “Jeg er bekymret, fordi ...” when explaining the reason for your concern.

fordi “fordi” means “because” and introduces the reason for being worried in “fordi bogen skal afleveres i dag”. It connects a feeling or statement with its explanation. Use “fordi” before a clause that gives the reason.

bogen “bogen” means “the book” in “bogen skal afleveres”. It refers to the specific book already being discussed. Use the form in a sentence where the book is the known subject of an action.

skal “skal” expresses an obligation or due requirement in “bogen skal afleveres i dag”. Together with “afleveres”, it says that the book is due to be returned today. Use “skal” before an action that must happen or is required.

afleveres “afleveres” means “be returned” or “be handed in” in “skal afleveres”. The form presents the book as the item that must be given back. Use it with “skal” when stating that something is due for return.

i “i” means “in” or “on” in the time expression “i dag”. Here it combines with “dag” to mean “today”. Use “i dag” when specifying that something happens today.

dag “dag” means “day” and forms the expression “i dag”, meaning “today”. In this dialogue it identifies the due date. Use “i dag” to refer to the current day.

De “De” means “they” in “De kan måske forlænge lånet”. Here it refers to the library staff. Because it begins the sentence, it is capitalized; the same pronoun appears as “de” later in the dialogue. Use “De” before a verb when talking about several people or an unspecified group.

kan “kan” means “can” or “may be able to” in “De kan måske forlænge lånet”. It presents the library staff’s possible ability to extend the loan. Use “kan” followed by an infinitive to describe ability or possibility.

måske “måske” means “maybe” or “perhaps” and makes the possible extension uncertain in “kan måske forlænge”. It softens the statement rather than presenting it as a guarantee. Use “kan måske” when suggesting a possible action.

forlænge “forlænge” means “extend” in “forlænge lånet”. Here it means giving the loan a longer period. Use “forlænge lånet” when asking whether a library loan can continue.

hvis “hvis” means “if” and introduces the condition in “hvis de kan se”. The possible extension depends on the library seeing the login problem. Use “hvis” before a condition that must be met.

se “se” means “see” in “kan se, at der var et problem”. Here it means recognize or confirm the problem from the account situation. Use “se, at” before a clause describing what someone can observe or understand.

der “der” introduces the existence of a problem in “der var et problem”. It does not refer to a location here. Use “der var” or “der er” when stating that something exists or existed.

var “var” means “was” in “der var et problem”. It places the login problem in the past. Use “der var” to say that a problem or other thing existed earlier.

et “et” means “a” or “an” before “problem” in “et problem”. It presents the problem as one unspecified problem. Use “et” before a noun in this type of indefinite phrase.

problem “problem” means “problem” in “et problem med at logge ind”. Here it identifies the difficulty that prevented normal account access. Use “problem med” before the activity or matter causing difficulty.

med “med” means “with” in “et problem med at logge ind”. It links the problem to the activity of logging in. Use “problem med” when naming what is difficult or not working.

logge ind The full expression “logge ind” means “log in”. In it, “logge” names the login action and “ind” completes the idea of entering an account or service. Use “problem med at logge ind” when explaining that account access is not working.

Hvad “Hvad” means “what” in the expression “Hvad nu hvis nogen har reserveret den?”. Together with “nu hvis”, it opens a hypothetical question meaning “what if”. Use “Hvad nu hvis” before a possible situation you are concerned about.

nu “nu” means “now” on its own, but in “Hvad nu hvis” it helps form the expression “what if”. The phrase introduces a possible consequence or concern rather than asking about the current time. Use “Hvad nu hvis” to raise a hypothetical situation.

nogen “nogen” means “someone” or “anyone” in “nogen har reserveret den”. It refers to an unspecified person who may have placed a reservation. Use “nogen” when the person is unknown or not important to identify.

har “har” means “has” in “har reserveret den”. Together with “reserveret”, it describes a reservation that has been made and matters now. Use “har” with a completed action when referring to what someone has done.

reserveret “reserveret” means “reserved” in “nogen har reserveret den”. Here it means that someone has placed a hold on the book. Use it with “har” when saying that an item has already been reserved.

den “den” means “it” or “that one” in “har reserveret den”. It refers back to the specific book or loan being discussed. Use “den” to refer back to an already identified item in a sentence.

Så “Så” means “then” in the reply “Så kan de nok ikke forny lånet”. It introduces the expected consequence of someone having reserved the book. Use “Så” at the start of a response when drawing a conclusion from what was just said.

nok “nok” means “probably” in “kan de nok ikke forny lånet”. It shows that the speaker is making a likely prediction rather than stating certainty. Use “nok” to soften a conclusion or indicate probability.

heller In “heller ikke over telefonen”, “heller” contributes to the meaning “even” or “either” in a negative statement. The whole expression says that renewing by phone will not work either. Use “heller ikke” to add another option that is also excluded.

over “over” means “by” in “over telefonen”. It identifies the phone as the communication method. Use “over” before a communication channel when describing how contact takes place.

telefonen “telefonen” means “the phone” in “heller ikke over telefonen”. It refers to contacting the library by telephone. Use “over telefonen” when describing communication by phone.

vil “vil” means “will” or expresses an intention to in “Jeg vil spørge”. Here the speaker is stating a plan to ask about reservations. Use “vil” followed by an infinitive when describing a future intention.

spørge “spørge” means “ask” in “Jeg vil spørge”. The speaker plans to request information from the library. Use “spørge, om” before an indirect yes-or-no question, as in “spørge, om der er reservationer”.

om “om” means “whether” in “spørge, om der er reservationer”. It introduces the information the speaker wants to find out. Use “spørge, om” before a clause that reports a yes-or-no question.

reservationer “reservationer” means “holds” or “reservations” in “om der er reservationer”. It refers to other people’s claims on the book. Use “der er reservationer” when checking whether any holds exist.

går ud fra The full expression “går ud fra” means “assume” or “take for granted” in “før jeg går ud fra, at jeg kan beholde den”. “går” supplies the verb, while “ud” and “fra” complete the expression; together they introduce the assumption. Use “går ud fra, at” before the situation you are assuming.

beh holde The dialogue form is “beholde”, meaning “keep” or “retain”, in “kan beholde den”. It follows “kan” and refers to keeping the book instead of returning it. Use “kan beholde den” when saying that you are allowed or able to keep an identified item.

Grammar Points

-s-passiv

Lånet afleveres.

LOH-nuhth AH-flay-rus.

The loan is returned.

The -s ending marks the passive: the loan receives the action rather than performing it.

at + infinitiv

at logge ind

ad LOG-uh en

to log in

Use at before the infinitive when naming an action.

Danish Vocabulary

aflevere verb

AH-flay-ruh return; hand in afleveres

bogen skal afleveres

afleveringsfrist noun

AH-flay-rings-FREST due date afleveringsfristen

Gender: common

før afleveringsfristen udløber

bekymret adj

beh-KUHM-ruth worried

Jeg er bekymret

bibliotek noun

bee-blee-oh-TAYG library biblioteket

Gender: common

Ring til biblioteket

forlænge verb

foh-LENG-uh extend; renew

forlænge lånet

forny verb

foh-NOO renew

at forny lånet

indlæse verb

en-LAY-suh load

ville ikke indlæse

konto noun

KON-toh account

Gender: common

min konto

logge ind phrase

LOG-uh en log in at logge ind

problemet med at logge ind

lån noun

LOHN loan lånet

Gender: common

forny lånet

prøve verb

PRUH-vuh try prøvede

Jeg prøvede at forny

udløbe verb

ooth-LOH-wuh expire; pass udløber

afleveringsfristen udløber

Quiz

Word Order

Arrange the words in the correct order.

Call the library before the due date passes.

Show Answer

Ring til biblioteket, før afleveringsfristen udløber.

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

renew

Show Answer

forny

account

Show Answer

konto

worried

Show Answer

bekymret

try

Show Answer

prøvede