Choosing an activity based on the weather | Learn Danish in English

Danish lesson set in a contemporary Copenhagen everyday setting: Before meeting others, two adults choose between an outdoor market and an indoor museum in case the weather changes..

EN → DA / Level: B1

About This Lesson

Use Choosing an activity based on the weather to practice Danish conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

A

Vejret kan ændre sig, så det er svært at vælge en aktivitet.

VY-uhth kan EN-druh say, soh deh air SVAIR-th uh VEL-guh en ak-tee-vee-TAIT. The weather may change, so choosing an activity feels difficult.
B

Vælg noget, der stadig kan foregå indendørs, hvis det regner.

VELG NOH-uhth, dair STAY-thee kan for-GOH EN-en-DOHRS, vess deh RAHNG-nuh. Pick something that still works indoors if it rains.
A

Det udendørs marked lyder sjovt, men regn kan gøre det ubehageligt.

Deh OO-en-DOHRS MAR-guhth LOO-uh SHOH-ood, men RINE kan GUH-uh deh oo-beh-HIGH-uh-leh. The outdoor market sounds fun, but rain could make it uncomfortable.
B

Et museum ville være lettere, hvis vejret bliver dårligt.

Ed moo-SAY-um VEL-uh VAIR-uh LEH-duh-reh, vess VY-uhth BLEE-vuh DAWR-leet. A museum would be easier if the weather turns bad.
A

Det giver os fleksibilitet, uden at vi aflyser dagen.

Deh KEE-vuh ohs flek-see-bee-lee-TAIT, OO-uhn uh vee uh-FLY-suh DAY-un. That gives us flexibility without canceling the day.
B

Fortæl alle om hovedplanen og den indendørs mulighed, før de tager af sted.

for-TAIL AL-uh om HOH-thuh-PLAY-nun oh den EN-en-DOHRS moo-lee-HAYTH, fur dair TAY-uh ow STAYTH. Tell everyone the main plan and the indoor option before they leave.
A

Jeg sender begge muligheder, før vi mødes.

YIE SEN-uh BOH-uh moo-lee-HAY-thuh, fur vee MUH-thus. I will send both choices before we meet.
B

Folk håndterer ændringer bedre, når de kender alternativet på forhånd.

FOHLK HON-tair-uh EN-reng-uh BEH-thruh, nawr dair KEN-uh al-tuh-na-tee-VAYTH poh for-HON. People handle changes better when they know the alternative early.

Word by Word

Vejret Vejret means the weather here and is the definite form of vejr. It is used as the subject in Vejret kan ændre sig and also appears in vejret bliver dårligt. Use it when referring to the weather as a known situation.
kan Kan expresses that something can or may happen, as in Vejret kan ændre sig. It is followed by an infinitive, here ændre. Use kan + an infinitive to describe possibility or ability.
ændre Ændre means change in Vejret kan ændre sig. It follows kan in its infinitive form and is followed by sig in this expression. Use ændre with a subject or situation that changes.
sig Sig is the reflexive pronoun used in ændre sig, meaning that the weather changes itself or changes on its own. Together, ændre sig means change. Use it when the subject undergoes the change described by the verb.
så Så means so and introduces the result in Vejret kan ændre sig, så det er svært at vælge en aktivitet. It connects the possible weather change with the difficulty of choosing. Use så to link a reason or situation to its consequence.
det Det is the introductory subject in det er svært at vælge en aktivitet. The phrase after it states what is difficult: at vælge en aktivitet. Use this pattern to say that an activity or action is difficult, easy, or similar.
er Er means is in det er svært at vælge en aktivitet. It links det with the description svært. Use er to connect a subject with a description or state.
svært Svært means difficult in det er svært at vælge en aktivitet. It describes the act of choosing an activity, not the word det itself. Use svært before an action expressed with at, as in at vælge en aktivitet.
at At marks the infinitive in at vælge en aktivitet, meaning to choose an activity. It comes directly before the infinitive vælge. Use at + an infinitive when an action is discussed as an activity or idea.
vælge Vælge means choose in at vælge en aktivitet. It is the infinitive after at and takes en aktivitet as its object here. Use vælge when selecting one activity, option, or item.
en En is the indefinite article a or an before aktivitet in en aktivitet. It introduces one non-specific activity. Use en before a singular noun of this type.
aktivitet Aktivitet means activity in en aktivitet. It is the object of vælge in the phrase at vælge en aktivitet. Use it for an activity that people can choose, plan, or take part in.
Vælg Vælg means choose or pick as a direct instruction in Vælg noget. It is the command form of vælge. Use Vælg when telling someone to select something.
noget Noget means something in Vælg noget, der stadig kan foregå indendørs. It is the thing being selected and is then described by the clause beginning der. Use noget when the specific thing is not named.
der Der links noget to the describing clause in noget, der stadig kan foregå indendørs. It introduces information about the thing that should be chosen. Use der after a noun or pronoun when adding a relative description.
stadig Stadig means still in stadig kan foregå indendørs. It shows that the activity remains possible despite the change in weather. Use stadig before the verb phrase to express continuation.
foregå Foregå means take place or happen in kan foregå indendørs. It describes the activity as something that can take place in a particular location. Use foregå for events or activities, often with a place or setting.
indendørs Indendørs means indoors in kan foregå indendørs. It tells where the activity can take place if it rains. Use indendørs to describe an indoor location or setting.
hvis Hvis means if in hvis det regner. It introduces the condition under which the indoor option is useful. Use hvis before a clause describing a possible condition.
regner Regner means rains in hvis det regner. With det, the expression det regner describes rainy weather. Use it in weather statements about rain.
udendørs Udendørs means outdoor in det udendørs marked. Here it describes the market as being outside. Use udendørs before a noun when identifying an outdoor activity or place.
marked Marked means market in det udendørs marked. It names the outdoor activity being considered. Use marked for a place where goods or other items are sold.
lyder Lyder means sounds in Det udendørs marked lyder sjovt. It expresses an impression or evaluation rather than the market making a literal sound. Use lyder + an adjective to say how something seems.
sjovt Sjovt means fun in Det udendørs marked lyder sjovt. It describes how the market seems in the speaker's opinion. Use sjovt after lyder when evaluating an activity or event.
men Men means but and introduces a contrast in Det udendørs marked lyder sjovt, men regn kan gøre det ubehageligt. It contrasts the positive impression with a possible problem. Use men to connect contrasting statements.
regn Regn means rain in regn kan gøre det ubehageligt. Here it is the possible cause of discomfort. Use regn as the subject when discussing rain as a condition or event.
gøre Gøre means make in regn kan gøre det ubehageligt. It follows kan and introduces the result that rain may cause. Use gøre + an object + an adjective to describe making something a certain way.
ubehageligt Ubehageligt means uncomfortable in gøre det ubehageligt. It describes the situation that rain may make uncomfortable. Use this form after gøre det when describing an uncomfortable result.
Et Et is the indefinite article a or an before museum in Et museum. It introduces one non-specific museum as an alternative. Use et before a singular noun of this type.
museum Museum means museum in Et museum ville være lettere. It names the indoor alternative to the market. Use museum for a place where collections or exhibitions can be visited.
ville Ville expresses would in Et museum ville være lettere. It comes before the infinitive være and presents the museum as a possible or hypothetical choice. Use ville + an infinitive when describing what something would be like or do.
være Være means be in ville være lettere. It is the infinitive after ville and links the museum with the description lettere. Use være after modal forms such as ville when describing a state or quality.
lettere Lettere means easier in ville være lettere. It compares the museum option with the more difficult situation caused by bad weather. Use lettere to describe an option that requires less effort or creates fewer problems.
bliver Bliver means becomes or turns in vejret bliver dårligt. Here it describes the weather changing into a bad condition. Use bliver + an adjective when something changes state.
giver Giver means gives in Det giver os fleksibilitet. The subject det is the plan or choice being discussed, and the result is flexibility for us. Use giver with a recipient and something provided, as in giver os fleksibilitet.
os Os means us in Det giver os fleksibilitet. It identifies the people who receive the benefit of the flexibility. Use os after a verb when we are the object or recipient.
fleksibilitet Fleksibilitet means flexibility in Det giver os fleksibilitet. It names the benefit of keeping an indoor option available. Use it when a plan can adapt to changing circumstances.
uden Uden means without in uden at vi aflyser dagen. It introduces an action that does not happen: cancelling the day. Use uden + at + a clause to describe something that happens without another action happening.
vi Vi means we in uden at vi aflyser dagen and før vi mødes. It identifies the speakers and their group as the subject of the following actions. Use vi when referring to the speaker together with other people.
aflyser Aflyser means cancel in vi aflyser dagen. It describes cancelling the planned day or event. Use aflyser with the thing being cancelled, such as dagen.
dagen Dagen means the day in aflyser dagen. It is the definite form of dag and refers to the planned day discussed in the dialogue. Use dagen when the particular day is already understood.
Fortæl Fortæl means tell as a direct instruction in Fortæl alle om hovedplanen. It is the command form of fortælle. Use Fortæl when asking someone to give information to another person or group.
alle Alle means everyone in Fortæl alle om hovedplanen. It identifies the people who should receive the information. Use alle for all members of a group or everyone concerned.
om Om means about in Fortæl alle om hovedplanen. It follows fortælle and introduces the information being communicated. Use fortælle nogen om noget for telling someone about something.
hovedplanen Hovedplanen means the main plan in Fortæl alle om hovedplanen. It is the definite form of hovedplan and refers to the primary arrangement for the day. Use it when a main plan is contrasted with an alternative.
og Og means and in hovedplanen og den indendørs mulighed. It joins the main plan with the indoor option. Use og to connect two equivalent words or phrases.
den Den means the in den indendørs mulighed. It identifies a particular option that has already been specified as indoor. Use den before a noun when referring to a specific item of this type.
mulighed Mulighed means option or possibility in den indendørs mulighed. It names the indoor choice available if the main plan becomes unsuitable. Use mulighed for a choice or course of action that is available.
før Før means before in før de tager af sted. It introduces the time at which the information should be given. Use før before a clause or event that must happen later.
de De means they in før de tager af sted. It is the subject of the clause describing the people leaving. Use de when referring to several people already known from the context.
tager Tager is the form of tage used in tager af sted. Together with af sted, it means go or leave rather than simply take. Use tager af sted when describing people leaving for somewhere.
af sted Af sted means away or off in tager af sted, and the whole expression means go or leave. Af contributes the sense of moving away, while sted refers to a place; together they form the fixed expression. Use tager af sted for someone leaving.
Jeg Jeg means I in Jeg sender begge muligheder. It identifies the speaker as the person who will send the choices. Use Jeg as the subject when talking about yourself.
sender Sender means send in Jeg sender begge muligheder. It describes sending both options before the meeting, as a planned action. Use sender with the thing being sent and, when relevant, the recipient.
begge Begge means both in Jeg sender begge muligheder. It refers to the two choices together. Use begge before or with a plural noun when referring to two items.
muligheder Muligheder means options or possibilities in begge muligheder. It is the plural form of mulighed and names the two choices being sent. Use it for several available choices or possible courses of action.
mødes Mødes means meet one another in før vi mødes. It is used when the people in the group come together. Use mødes with a group subject when describing a planned meeting.
Folk Folk means people in Folk håndterer ændringer bedre. It refers generally to the people affected by changes to the plan. Use folk when speaking about people as a group.
håndterer Håndterer means handle or deal with in håndterer ændringer bedre. It describes how people respond to changes in the plan. Use håndterer with a situation, task, or change that someone deals with.
ændringer Ændringer means changes in håndterer ændringer bedre. It is the plural form of ændring and refers to changes in the arrangement. Use it for alterations to a plan, situation, or decision.
bedre Bedre means better in håndterer ændringer bedre. It compares how people manage changes when they know the alternative early. Use bedre to compare one result or way of handling something with another.
når Når means when in når de kender alternativet på forhånd. It introduces the time or condition connected with people handling changes better. Use når before a clause describing when something happens or is true.
kender Kender means know in de kender alternativet. Here it means that the people know about or are familiar with the alternative. Use kender with a person, place, option, or other thing that someone knows.
alternativet Alternativet means the alternative in kender alternativet på forhånd. It is the definite form of alternativ and refers to the indoor choice offered instead of the main plan. Use it when a particular alternative has already been identified.
på forhånd På forhånd means in advance or beforehand in kender alternativet på forhånd. The whole expression refers to knowing something before it becomes necessary; på and forhånd together form this fixed phrase. Use it with information or actions arranged or known ahead of time.

Grammar Points

begge + plural noun

begge muligheder

BOH-uh moo-lee-HAY-thuh

both options

Begge comes before a plural noun and means “both.” The noun appears in the plural form.

på forhånd

på forhånd

poh for-HON

in advance

På forhånd is a fixed adverbial phrase meaning “in advance.”

Danish Vocabulary

aktivitet noun
ak-tee-vee-TAIT activity
Gender
common
foregå verb
for-GOH to take place
indendørs adv
EN-en-DOHRS indoors
noget pron
NOH-uhth something
regner verb
RAHNG-nuh rains
stadig adv
STAY-thee still
svært adj
SVAIR-th difficult
udendørs adj
OO-en-DOHRS outdoor
vejret noun
VY-uhth the weather
Gender
neuter
vælg verb
VELG pick; choose
vælge verb
VEL-guh to choose
ændre sig verb
EN-druh say to change

Quiz

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

to take place

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difficult

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something

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to choose

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