Confirming delay information and where to wait | Learn Danish in English

Danish lesson set in a contemporary Copenhagen everyday setting: During a travel delay, two travelers discuss an unclear announcement and decide where to wait for updated boarding information..

EN → DA / Level: B2

About This Lesson

Use Confirming delay information and where to wait to practice Danish conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

A

Meddelelsen siger, at der er en forsinkelse, men ikke hvorfor.

meh-DEL-sun SEE-uh, at dair air en foh-SENG-ul-suh, men ik VOHR-fohr The announcement says there is a delay, but it does not say why.
B

Jeg tror, de tjekker toget, før de lader folk gå om bord.

yai TROHR, dee CHEK-uh TOH-uh, fur dee LAIR folk goh om BOR I think they are checking the train before letting people board.
A

Skal vi blive her, eller skal vi lede efter en anden perron?

sgal vee BLEE-vuh hair, EL-uh sgal vee LAY-thuh ef-tuh en AH-nun peh-RONG Should we stay here, or should we look for another platform?
B

Bliv i nærheden indtil videre. Hvis det ændrer sig, siger personalet, hvor vi skal gå hen.

bleev ee NAIR-hay-thun en-tel vee-DAIR-uh. ves deh EN-ruh say, SEE-uh pair-soh-NAIR-luth, vohr vee sgal goh hen Stay close for now. If it changes, staff will say where to go.
A

Jeg har bagage med, så jeg har ikke lyst til at blive ved med at gå rundt.

yai hah bah-GEH-suh meh, soh yai hah ik LOOst tel at BLEE-vuh vay meh at goh roont I have luggage, so I do not want to keep moving around.
B

Jeg vil spørge, om de kan hjælpe os, hvis vi får brug for at skifte perron.

yai veel SPUR-uh, om dee kan YEL-buh ohs, ves vee fohr broo for at SGIF-tuh peh-RONG I will ask whether they can help if we need to switch platforms.
A

Det ville hjælpe, hvis ændringen kom i sidste øjeblik.

deh VIL-uh YEL-buh, ves EN-ringen kom ee SID-stuh UY-uh-blik That would help if the change comes at the last minute.
B

Når de har opdateret tavlen, kan vi gå videre uden at gætte.

nohr dee hah owp-dah-TAIR-uhd TAW-lun, kan vee goh vee-DAIR-uh OO-thun at GET-uh Once they update the board, we can move without guessing.

Word by Word

Meddelelsen “Meddelelsen” means “the announcement” in this dialogue. The form refers to the specific announcement the travelers have heard.
siger “siger” means “says” and describes what the announcement communicates. It is used with a clause introduced by “at”, as in “siger, at der er en forsinkelse”.
at Here “at” means “that” and introduces the content of what the announcement says. A useful pattern is “siger, at ...” for reporting information.
der In “der er en forsinkelse”, “der” introduces the existence of something, meaning “there” in “there is a delay”. The same pattern can be reused with “der er” followed by the thing that exists.
er “er” means “is” in the expression “der er en forsinkelse”. Together with “der” it forms the common pattern “der er” for saying that something exists or is present.
en “en” is the indefinite article before “forsinkelse”, giving the meaning “a delay”. It is used directly before the singular noun in “en forsinkelse”.
forsinkelse “forsinkelse” means “delay”, here referring to the travel delay. It is used after “der er” in “der er en forsinkelse”.
men “men” means “but” and introduces a contrast: the announcement says there is a delay, but it does not give the reason. It commonly connects two contrasting statements.
ikke “ikke” makes the statement negative in “men ikke hvorfor”, meaning that the announcement does not say why. It is placed before the remaining information being negated here.
hvorfor “hvorfor” means “why” and asks for the reason for the delay. In “ikke hvorfor”, it refers to the reason that the announcement does not provide.
Jeg “Jeg” means “I” and identifies the speaker as the person who thinks something. It is the subject in the reusable pattern “Jeg tror, ...”.
tror “tror” means “think” or “believe” and signals that the following statement is the speaker’s belief, not confirmed information. It is used in “Jeg tror, de tjekker toget” before the believed situation.
de “de” means “they” and refers to the people checking the train. It is the subject of “de tjekker toget”.
tjekker “tjekker” means “check” in “de tjekker toget”. It is used with the thing being checked directly after it, here “toget”.
toget “toget” means “the train” and is the object being checked. The ending shows that the dialogue refers to a specific train.
før “før” means “before” and places one event earlier than another in “før de lader folk gå om bord”. It can introduce a clause describing what happens before the main action.
lader “lader” means “let” or “allow” in “de lader folk gå om bord”. It is followed by the person allowed to do something and an infinitive describing that action.
folk “folk” means “people” and identifies who is allowed to board in “lader folk gå om bord”. It appears between “lader” and the action “gå om bord”.
gå “gå” means “go” in the expression “gå om bord”, meaning “go aboard” or “board”. It is in the infinitive after “lader”.
om Here “om” is part of the fixed expression “gå om bord”, meaning “go aboard”. Do not interpret it as the separate question word “whether” in this expression.
bord “bord” is the noun in the fixed expression “gå om bord”, which means “go aboard”. The complete expression is used when people enter or board a vehicle.
Skal “Skal” asks whether something should happen in the question “Skal vi blive her”. It comes before the subject in this question pattern.
vi “vi” means “we” and refers to both travelers together. It is the subject after “Skal” in “Skal vi blive her”.
blive “blive” means “stay” in “blive her”, not “become”. It follows “Skal vi” and describes remaining in the current place.
her “her” means “here” and points to the travelers’ current location. It is used after “blive” in “blive her”.
eller “eller” means “or” and presents the alternative to staying: looking for another platform. It connects the two options in the question.
lede “lede” means “look for” or “search” in “lede efter en anden perron”. It is followed by “efter” and the thing being sought.
efter Here “efter” means “for” in the expression “lede efter en anden perron”. The pattern “lede efter” is used when searching for something.
anden “anden” means “another” and describes a different platform in “en anden perron”. It comes before the noun it specifies.
perron “perron” means “platform” in the travel context. It is the object of “lede efter” in “lede efter en anden perron”.
Bliv “Bliv” means “stay” or “remain” and gives a direct instruction in “Bliv i nærheden”. It tells the other traveler not to move away for now.
i Here “i” means “in” or “at” as part of the expression “i nærheden”, meaning “nearby”. It is followed by the place expression “nærheden”.
nærheden “nærheden” means “the vicinity” in “i nærheden”, so “Bliv i nærheden” means “Stay nearby”. The expression is useful when telling someone to remain close to a place or person.
indtil “indtil” means “until” in “indtil videre”. It marks the period up to the point when the situation or information changes.
videre In “indtil videre”, “videre” contributes the meaning of continuing on, and the whole expression means “for now” or “until further notice”. This expression is useful when a temporary decision remains in effect.
Hvis “Hvis” means “if” and introduces the condition “Hvis det ændrer sig”. It is used to describe what will happen under a possible change in the situation.
det “det” means “it” in “Hvis det ændrer sig” and refers to the current situation or arrangement. It is the subject of “ændrer sig”.
ændrer “ændrer” means “changes” in “det ændrer sig”. With “sig”, it describes the situation becoming different.
sig “sig” is the reflexive component of “ændrer sig”, which means “changes” or “changes itself”. The complete expression “ændrer sig” is used when a situation or condition changes.
personalet “personalet” means “the staff” and refers to the people working at the station or travel service. It is the subject of “siger” in “siger personalet”.
hvor “hvor” means “where” and asks about the destination or place in “hvor vi skal gå hen”. It introduces the embedded question about where to go.
hen “hen” adds direction toward a place in “gå hen”, meaning “go to a place”. It is used with movement verbs when the destination is being asked about or stated.
har “har” means “have” and is the auxiliary in “har opdateret”. Together, “har opdateret” describes the board as having been updated.
bagage “bagage” means “luggage” in “Jeg har bagage med”. The expression says that the speaker has luggage along with them.
med Here “med” means “with” or “along” in “har bagage med”. It shows that the luggage is being carried along by the speaker.
så “så” means “so” and introduces the result of having luggage: the speaker does not want to keep moving around. It connects a reason with its consequence.
lyst “lyst” means “desire” or “inclination” in “har ikke lyst til at blive ved med ...”. The whole expression “have lyst til” means “want to” or “feel like” doing something.
til Here “til” is part of “har lyst til at ...”, meaning “to” in the construction “want to”. It is followed by “at” and the action the speaker does not feel like doing.
ved Here “ved” is part of “blive ved med at”, meaning “keep on” doing something. The complete pattern is followed by “at” and an infinitive.
rundt “rundt” means “around” in “gå rundt”, describing movement from place to place. In this dialogue, “blive ved med at gå rundt” means “keep moving around”.
vil “vil” means “will” or expresses an intention in “Jeg vil spørge”. It is followed by the infinitive “spørge” to state what the speaker intends to do.
spørge “spørge” means “ask” in “Jeg vil spørge”. It follows “vil” and can introduce the information or question the speaker wants to obtain.
kan “kan” means “can” and expresses ability or possibility in “de kan hjælpe os”. It is followed by the infinitive “hjælpe”.
hjælpe “hjælpe” means “help” in “kan hjælpe os”. It is the infinitive after “kan” and is followed by the person receiving help.
os “os” means “us” and identifies the people who may receive help. It is the object after “hjælpe” in “hjælpe os”.
får In “får brug for”, “får” contributes the idea of coming to have or developing a need. The complete expression “får brug for” means “need” in the possible situation described here.
brug In “får brug for”, “brug” is part of the fixed expression meaning “need”. It is followed by “for” and the thing that may be needed.
for Here “for” is part of “får brug for”, which means “need”. It links the expression to what is needed, here “at skifte perron”.
skifte “skifte” means “switch” or “change” in “skifte perron”. It is the action that may be needed if the travelers have to use a different platform.
ville “ville” means “would” in “Det ville hjælpe”. It presents the help as a possible or conditional result, followed by the condition introduced with “hvis”.
ændringen “ændringen” means “the change” and refers to the travel or platform change being discussed. The definite form presents it as a specific change known from the context.
kom “kom” means “came” or “occurred” in “ændringen kom”. Here it describes the change arriving at the last minute.
sidste “sidste” means “last” in “sidste øjeblik”. It identifies the final point in the available time.
øjeblik “øjeblik” means “moment” in the expression “i sidste øjeblik”, meaning “at the last minute”. This expression is used when something happens just before it is too late.
Når “Når” means “when” or “once” and introduces the condition in “Når de har opdateret tavlen”. It marks the point at which the travelers can move forward.
opdateret “opdateret” means “updated” in “har opdateret tavlen”. It follows “har” in the expression describing that the board has received current information.
tavlen “tavlen” means “the board” and refers to the information board at the station. It is the object being updated in “opdateret tavlen”.
uden “uden” means “without” in “uden at gætte”. It introduces an action that does not happen: guessing.
gætte “gætte” means “guess” in “uden at gætte”. It is an infinitive after “uden at” and describes moving on without having to guess what to do.

Grammar Points

blive ved med at + infinitiv

Bliv ved med at spørge personalet.

BLEE-vuh vay meh at SPUR-uh pair-soh-NAIR-luth

Keep asking the staff.

Denne faste konstruktion betyder, at en handling fortsætter. Verbet efter med står i infinitiv med at.

uden at + infinitiv

Gå videre uden at gætte.

goh vee-DAIR-uh OO-thun at GET-uh

Proceed without guessing.

uden at bruges, når man beskriver en handling, der ikke udføres. Verbet står i infinitiv med at.

Danish Vocabulary

blive verb
BLEE-vuh stay; remain
forsinkelsen noun
foh-SENG-ul-sun the delay
før conj
fur before
gå om bord phrase
goh om BOR board
hvorfor adv
VOHR-fohr why
lader verb
LAIR-uh let
lede efter phrase
LAY-thuh EF-tuh look for
meddelelsen noun
meh-DEL-sun the announcement
siger verb
SEE-uh says
tjekker verb
CHEK-uh check
toget noun
TOH-uh the train
Gender
neuter
tror verb
TROHR think

Quiz

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

why

Show Answerhvorfor

let

Show Answerlader

the announcement

Show Answermeddelelsen

check

Show Answertjekker