Finding the right queue for detailed help | Learn Danish in English

Danish lesson set in a contemporary Copenhagen everyday setting: In a service area, a person checks which line is right for a detailed request before waiting in the wrong place..

EN → DA / Level: B1

About This Lesson

Use Finding the right queue for detailed help to practice Danish conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

A

Undskyld, er det her køen til hjælp med en kompliceret forespørgsel?

oon-SGUHL, air deh hair KUR-uhn till yelp med en kom-plee-SAIR-uth for-SPUR-sel? Excuse me, is this the line for help with a complicated request?
B

Denne kø er til enkle spørgsmål, ikke detaljerede forespørgsler.

DEN-uh KUR air till ENG-luh SPUR-smawl, EG-uh deh-TEL-yuh-RAY-thuh for-SPUR-sler. This line is for simple questions, not detailed requests.
A

Skiltet er forvirrende, så jeg var ikke sikker på, hvor jeg skulle vente.

SGEL-duh air for-VEER-uhn-uh, soh yai var EG-uh SIK-uh poh, vor yai SKUL-uh VEN-uh. The sign is confusing, so I was not sure where to wait.
B

Hvis du har brug for detaljeret hjælp, skal du stille dig i køen nær hovedskranken.

ves doo har broo for deh-TEL-yuh-RAY-thuh yelp, SGEL doo STIL-uh dai ee KUR-uhn nair HOH-uth-SGRANG-uhn. For detailed help, join the line near the main desk.
A

Skal jeg spørge i receptionen, før jeg flytter mig?

SGEL yai SPUR-uh ee reh-seh-GOH-nuhn, fur yai FLUH-duh mai? Should I ask at reception before I move?
B

Fortæl dem, hvad du har brug for.

for-TEL dem, va doo har broo for. Tell them what you need.
B

De kan vise dig hen til det rigtige sted.

dee kan VEE-suh dai hen till deh REG-duh steh. They can point you to the right place.
A

Jeg vil ikke vente i den forkerte kø.

yai vil EG-uh VEN-uh ee den for-KUR-duh KUR. I do not want to wait in the wrong line.
B

Det sker ofte, fordi skiltet ikke er så tydeligt.

deh sgair OF-duh, for-THEE SGEL-duh EG-uh air soh TEW-thuh-lee. It happens often because the sign is not very clear.
A

Lad mig spørge først, og så stiller jeg mig i den rigtige kø.

la mai SPUR-uh furst, oh soh STIL-uh yai mai ee den REG-duh KUR. Let me ask first, then join the correct queue.
B

Det burde hjælpe dig med at undgå ekstra ventetid.

deh BOO-thuh YELP-uh dai med ad on-GOH EK-struh VEN-uh-TEED. That should help you avoid extra waiting.

Word by Word

Undskyld Undskyld is a polite way to get someone’s attention, meaning excuse me here. It is useful when beginning a question to staff or another person in a service area.
er Er means is in the question er det her køen til hjælp med en kompliceret forespørgsel? It links the subject with the information being checked, and is commonly used when asking whether something is a particular place or service.
det Det refers to the thing or place being identified in det her and det rigtige sted. In this dialogue it helps form a question about whether the indicated queue is the right one; it is also used as the subject in Det sker ofte and Det burde hjælpe dig.
her Her means here and points to the place being indicated in det her. It is useful when checking a nearby object, place, or queue.
køen Køen means the queue or the line, referring to the specific line being checked. It is the definite form used when the speaker points to one particular queue.
til Til expresses the service or purpose of the queue in køen til hjælp, and direction in hen til det rigtige sted. Use it before the service something is intended for or before a destination.
hjælp Hjælp means help or assistance, here referring to service with a difficult request and to detailed help. With med, it identifies the task or matter that the assistance concerns.
med Med means with in hjælp med en kompliceret forespørgsel, linking the help to the request. A useful pattern is to use med after help when naming the task someone needs assistance with.
en En is the indefinite article before the singular noun en kompliceret forespørgsel, meaning a request. Use it before one non-specific common-gender noun when introducing it.
kompliceret Kompliceret describes the request as complicated in en kompliceret forespørgsel. It is useful when explaining that a request needs more detailed or specialized assistance.
forespørgsel Forespørgsel means a request or inquiry, here one complicated request that may require help. With en, it identifies one particular type of service request without making it definite.
Denne Denne means this and identifies the queue being discussed in Denne kø. It is useful when distinguishing the nearby or currently mentioned queue from another one.
kø Kø means queue or line in Denne kø, referring to the line for simple questions. It is useful when naming a waiting line in a service area.
enkle Enkle describes the questions as simple in enkle spørgsmål. Here it helps distinguish this queue from the one for more detailed requests, and it can be used before a plural noun to describe uncomplicated items.
spørgsmål Spørgsmål means questions in enkle spørgsmål. It names the kind of request handled by this line, so it is useful when referring to things people ask staff.
ikke Ikke marks negation, excluding detailed requests from the service of this queue in ikke detaljerede forespørgsler. It is commonly placed before the word or phrase being denied.
detaljerede Detaljerede describes the requests as detailed in detaljerede forespørgsler. Its plural form matches the plural noun and is useful when distinguishing several requests that require more explanation.
forespørgsler Forespørgsler means requests or inquiries in the plural phrase detaljerede forespørgsler. It refers to multiple requests and contrasts with the simple questions handled by the other line.
Skiltet Skiltet means the sign, referring to the sign that gives information about the queues. Its capital letter comes from being at the beginning of the sentence; the same word appears later as skiltet.
forvirrende Forvirrende describes the sign as confusing in Skiltet er forvirrende. It is useful after a form of be when explaining that information causes uncertainty.
så Så means so when it introduces the consequence in så jeg var ikke sikker, and then when it marks the next step in og så stiller jeg mig. Use it to connect a result or to order what happens next, depending on the sentence.
jeg Jeg means I and identifies the speaker in jeg var ikke sikker and stiller jeg mig. It is used as the subject when the speaker describes their own uncertainty or action.
var Var expresses the speaker’s past state in jeg var ikke sikker, meaning was. It is useful with an adjective when describing how someone felt or what they believed at an earlier point.
sikker Sikker means sure or certain in ikke sikker på, hvor jeg skulle vente. The pattern sikker på introduces the matter about which someone is certain, and the negative form describes uncertainty.
på På is the preposition used in sikker på, linking certainty to its subject or content. Use it in this pattern when saying what someone is or is not sure about.
hvor Hvor means where and introduces the location clause hvor jeg skulle vente. It is useful when asking or describing the place connected with an action.
skulle Skulle indicates the intended or required action in hvor jeg skulle vente, concerning where the speaker was supposed to wait. It appears before the infinitive vente and is useful when describing what someone should do in a particular situation.
vente Vente means wait in hvor jeg skulle vente and refers to waiting in the service area. It follows skulle here, and it is useful after a modal word when describing the action someone is expected to take.
Hvis Hvis means if and introduces the condition Hvis du har brug for detaljeret hjælp. It is useful for explaining what should happen when a particular need or situation applies.
du Du means you and addresses the person being given directions in Hvis du har brug for detaljeret hjælp. It is used as the subject of the conditional clause and for direct practical instructions.
har Har means have in du har brug for, where it forms part of the expression for needing something. This pattern is useful when stating that a person requires a particular service or item.
brug Brug contributes the idea of need in har brug for, but the complete expression gives the meaning need. Use it with har and for when explaining what assistance someone requires.
for For completes the need expression har brug for, linking the need to the required help. It is also a preposition meaning for in the context of a service intended for someone, so the surrounding words determine its function.
detaljeret Detaljeret describes the help as detailed in detaljeret hjælp. It is useful when specifying that someone needs thorough assistance rather than help with a simple question.
skal Skal expresses what the listener should do in skal du stille dig i køen and what the speaker is considering in Skal jeg spørge i receptionen. It is commonly used with an infinitive for instructions, obligations, or questions about what should happen.
stille Stille is the infinitive used for taking a place in the queue in stille dig i køen. With a person after it, it describes placing oneself somewhere, and it follows skal in this instruction.
dig Dig refers to you as the person taking a place in stille dig i køen, and as the person being directed in vise dig hen til det rigtige sted. It is useful when the listener is the person affected by the action.
i I means in and places the person inside the queue in i køen. Use it before a location when describing where someone waits or stands.
nær Nær means near and locates the queue in relation to the main desk in nær hovedskranken. It is useful before a noun phrase when giving a nearby landmark or destination.
hovedskranken Hovedskranken means the main desk, the service point used as a landmark for the correct line. It is the definite form referring to one particular main desk in the area.
spørge Spørge means ask in Skal jeg spørge i receptionen and Lad mig spørge først. It is used as an infinitive after skal and in the request pattern Lad mig, making it useful when deciding to ask staff for information.
receptionen Receptionen means the reception desk or reception area in spørge i receptionen. The definite form refers to the particular reception point where the speaker can ask before moving.
før Før means before and introduces the earlier action in før jeg flytter mig. It is useful for ordering one action before another and can introduce a full clause with its own subject and verb.
flytter Flytter means move in før jeg flytter mig, where the speaker says they will move themselves. It is the verb used with the reflexive object mig when describing changing position.
mig Mig refers back to the speaker as the person moving in flytter mig, and as the person who is allowed to ask in Lad mig spørge først. It is useful when the speaker is the object or affected participant in the action.
Fortæl Fortæl is a direct instruction meaning tell in Fortæl dem, hvad du har brug for. It is useful when asking someone to communicate their need to another person.
dem Dem means them and identifies the people who should receive the information in Fortæl dem. In this situation it refers to the reception or service staff, and it functions as the recipient of the telling.
hvad Hvad means what and introduces the content of what the person needs in hvad du har brug for. It is useful after a communication verb when the information being communicated is a complete clause.
De De means they and refers to the people who can direct the speaker in De kan vise dig hen til det rigtige sted. It is the subject of the sentence and is useful when describing what a group of staff members can do.
kan Kan means can and expresses the staff’s ability to direct the person in De kan vise dig hen til det rigtige sted. It is followed by the infinitive vise, a common pattern for describing ability or available assistance.
vise Vise means show or direct in vise dig hen til det rigtige sted. With kan it appears as an infinitive, and the surrounding direction phrase specifies where the person will be guided.
hen Hen adds direction toward a destination in vise dig hen til det rigtige sted. Together with til, it helps describe guiding someone onward to the correct place, which is useful when giving directions.
rigtige Rigtige means right or correct in det rigtige sted and den rigtige kø. It identifies the place or queue that matches the person’s need, and it is useful when choosing between alternatives.
sted Sted means place in det rigtige sted, the destination to which the staff can direct the speaker. It is useful after a location description when naming where someone should go.
vil Vil means want to in Jeg vil ikke vente, expressing the speaker’s intention or wish. It is followed by the infinitive vente and is useful for stating what someone does or does not want to do.
den Den is the definite article in den forkerte kø and den rigtige kø. It points to a specific common-gender noun, allowing the speaker to distinguish the wrong queue from the correct one.
forkerte Forkerte means wrong or incorrect in den forkerte kø. It identifies the queue that does not match the speaker’s request and is useful when warning about an unsuitable option.
sker Sker means happens in Det sker ofte, referring to the recurring problem of people choosing the wrong line. It is useful with det when describing an event or situation that occurs.
ofte Ofte means often and describes the frequency of the problem in Det sker ofte. It is a frequency adverb that can be used to say that an event happens regularly.
fordi Fordi means because and introduces the reason in fordi skiltet ikke er så tydeligt. It is useful for connecting an explanation or cause to the statement before it.
tydeligt Tydeligt means clear in ikke er så tydeligt, describing the sign as not very clear. The word appears after er and so expresses an assessment of how understandable the sign is.
Lad Lad means let in the request Lad mig spørge først, giving permission or proposing that the speaker be allowed to ask. Lad mig is a useful pattern for introducing an action the speaker wants to take.
først Først means first and places asking before joining the correct queue in spørge først. It is useful for showing the order of actions in a plan.
og Og means and and links the two planned actions in først, og så stiller jeg mig i den rigtige kø. It is useful for joining actions or pieces of information in one sequence.
stiller Stiller describes the speaker taking a place in stiller jeg mig i den rigtige kø. With mig and a location phrase, it expresses placing oneself or standing somewhere, and it is useful when joining a queue.
burde Burde means should or ought to in Det burde hjælpe dig med at undgå ekstra ventetid, expressing an expected helpful result. It is useful when making a cautious prediction about what an action is likely to achieve.
hjælpe Hjælpe means help in hjælpe dig med at undgå ekstra ventetid. It is the infinitive after burde and is useful in the pattern describing how one action supports another.
at At marks the infinitive in med at undgå ekstra ventetid. It introduces the action that the help is intended to make possible or easier.
undgå Undgå means avoid in hjælpe dig med at undgå ekstra ventetid, referring to preventing unnecessary waiting. It follows at here and is useful when describing an action taken to prevent an unwanted result.
ekstra Ekstra means extra or additional in ekstra ventetid. It describes waiting beyond what would be necessary, and it is useful before a noun when identifying an added amount or burden.
ventetid Ventetid means waiting time, referring here to additional time spent waiting because of the queue choice. It is useful when discussing how long someone must wait or how to reduce that time.

Grammar Points

have brug for + substantiv

Har brug for hjælp.

har broo for yelp.

Need help.

Danish uses the fixed expression have brug for to express need; the noun follows for.

stille sig i kø

Stille dig i køen.

STIL-uh dai ee KUR-uhn.

Join the queue.

The reflexive pronoun changes with the person: sig becomes dig when addressing someone directly.

Danish Vocabulary

detaljeret adj
deh-TEL-yuh-RAY-th detailed
enkel adj
ENG-uhl simple enkle
forespørgsel noun
for-SPUR-sel request; inquiry
Gender
common
forvirrende adj
for-VEER-uhn-uh confusing
hjælp noun
YELP help
Gender
common
kompliceret adj
kom-plee-SAIR-uth complicated
kø noun
KUR queue; line køen
Gender
common
sikker adj
SIK-uh sure; certain
skilt noun
SGELD sign skiltet
Gender
neuter
spørgsmål noun
SPUR-smawl question
Gender
neuter
undskyld intj
oon-SGUHL excuse me; sorry

Undskyld, er det her køen ...?

vente verb
VEN-uh wait

Quiz

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

request; inquiry

Show Answerforespørgsel

sign

Show Answerskiltet

excuse me; sorry

Show Answerundskyld

queue; line

Show Answerkøen