Reducing unnecessary video meetings | Learn Danish in English

Danish lesson set in a contemporary Copenhagen everyday setting: In a remote work discussion, two adults decide when video meetings are needed and when written updates can replace them..

EN → DA / Level: B2

About This Lesson

Use Reducing unnecessary video meetings to practice Danish conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

A

Jeg vil gerne reducere unødvendige videomøder, når det er muligt.

yai vel GAIR-nuh reh-doo-SAIR-uh oo-NUR-ven-dee-uh VEE-dee-oh-MUR-uh, nor deh air MOO-lee. I want to reduce unnecessary video meetings where possible.
B

Det forstår jeg, selv om nogle drøftelser har gavn af synlige reaktioner.

deh fo-STOR yai, sel ohm NOH-luh DRURF-del-suh har gawn av SOON-lee-uh reh-ak-SHOH-nuh. I understand, though some discussions benefit from visible reactions.
A

Komplekse beslutninger bør drøftes direkte, men det behøver opdateringer ofte ikke.

kom-PLEK-suh beh-SLOOT-ning-uh bur DRURF-dus dee-REK-duh, men deh beh-HUR-uh ob-dah-TAIR-ing-uh OFF-duh EH-guh. Complex decisions deserve live discussion, but updates often do not.
B

Så bør vi adskille beslutningsmøder fra informationsdeling.

soh bur vee at-SGIL-uh beh-SLOOT-neengs-MUR-uh frah in-for-mah-SHOHNS-day-ling. Then we should separate decision meetings from information sharing.
A

Skriftlige opdateringer ville give folk mulighed for at svare mere gennemtænkt.

SGREFT-lee-uh ob-dah-TAIR-ing-uh VEL-uh GEE-vuh fohlk moo-LEE-hayth foh ah SVAH-uh MAIR-uh GEH-nem-TENGD. Written updates would let people respond more thoughtfully.
B

De skaber også dokumentation, som er nyttig senere.

dee SGAY-buh OH-soh doh-koo-men-ta-SHOHN, sohm air NOO-tee SAY-nuh-uh. They also create records, which is useful later.
A

Kunne vi afprøve den tilgang med et tilbagevendende møde?

KON-uh vee af-PRUR-vuh den TEL-gong meh ehd teel-bay-VEN-uh-nuh MUR-uh? Could we pilot that approach with a recurring meeting?
B

Vi kan teste det og sammenligne kvaliteten af resultaterne.

vee kan TES-duh deh oh sa-men-LYEE-nuh kveh-lee-TAI-den av reh-sool-TAIR-nuh. We can test it and compare the quality of outcomes.

Word by Word

Jeg “Jeg” means “I” and is the speaker’s subject in “Jeg vil gerne reducere unødvendige videomøder”. It is used before the verb when stating your own wish or intention.
vil In “Jeg vil gerne reducere unødvendige videomøder”, “vil” expresses a wish or intention to do something. It is followed here by “gerne” and the infinitive “reducere”.
gerne In “Jeg vil gerne reducere unødvendige videomøder”, “gerne” helps express that the speaker would like or wants to do the action. The reusable pattern is “Jeg vil gerne” followed by an infinitive.
reducere “Reducere” means to reduce, and in “reducere unødvendige videomøder” it describes making the number of unnecessary video meetings smaller. After “vil gerne”, the verb appears in this infinitive form.
unødvendige “Unødvendige” means unnecessary and describes “videomøder” in “unødvendige videomøder”. It is placed before the plural noun it describes.
videomøder “Videomøder” means video meetings in “reducere unødvendige videomøder”. It is the object of the action and can be used after a verb that describes reducing, arranging, or discussing meetings.
når “Når” means “when” in “når det er muligt” and introduces the condition under which the action can happen. It is followed here by a clause with “det er muligt”.
det “Det” refers to the relevant action or situation in “når det er muligt”, and it also means “it” in “Det forstår jeg”. In “det er muligt”, it fills the subject position of the expression meaning “it is possible”.
er “Er” means “is” in “det er muligt” and links “det” with the description “muligt”. It is also the form used when describing what something is or how a situation is.
muligt “Muligt” means possible in “det er muligt”. Together, “det er muligt” describes an action or situation as feasible, and the phrase can follow “når” to express “when it is possible”.
forstår “Forstår” expresses understanding in “Det forstår jeg”. In this sentence, “jeg” identifies the person who understands, while “det” identifies what is understood.
selv om “Selv om” means “although” or “even though” and introduces the concession in “selv om nogle drøftelser har gavn af synlige reaktioner”. “Selv” adds emphasis to the concession, while “om” forms the conjunction with it; together they introduce a subordinate clause.
nogle “Nogle” means some in “nogle drøftelser”. It is placed before a plural noun when referring to an unspecified part of a group.
drøftelser “Drøftelser” means discussions in “nogle drøftelser har gavn af synlige reaktioner”. It is the subject of the clause and refers here to discussions that benefit from visible reactions.
har “Har” means have in “nogle drøftelser har gavn af synlige reaktioner”. It is part of the expression “har gavn af”, which says that something benefits from another thing.
gavn “Gavn” means benefit in the expression “har gavn af synlige reaktioner”. The pattern “have gavn af” is used to say that a person, activity, or situation benefits from something.
af “Af” links the benefit to its source in “har gavn af synlige reaktioner”. In this construction, it introduces the thing that provides the benefit.
synlige “Synlige” means visible and describes “reaktioner” in “synlige reaktioner”. It is placed before the plural noun it describes.
reaktioner “Reaktioner” means reactions in “synlige reaktioner”. Here it refers to reactions that participants can see during a discussion.
Komplekse “Komplekse” means complex and describes “beslutninger” in “Komplekse beslutninger bør drøftes direkte”. It appears at the beginning of the sentence and matches the plural noun that follows.
beslutninger “Beslutninger” means decisions in “Komplekse beslutninger bør drøftes direkte”. It is the topic of the recommendation that these decisions should be discussed directly.
bør “Bør” expresses what should or ought to happen in “beslutninger bør drøftes direkte”. It is followed by the verb form “drøftes” to give advice or state an expectation.
drøftes “Drøftes” means be discussed in “beslutninger bør drøftes direkte”. It presents the decisions as the subject of the discussion rather than naming who discusses them.
direkte “Direkte” means directly in “drøftes direkte”. Here it describes the manner of discussing complex decisions and supports the idea of a direct, live discussion.
men “Men” means but and connects two contrasting points in “Komplekse beslutninger bør drøftes direkte, men det behøver opdateringer ofte ikke”. It introduces the different treatment of updates.
behøver “Behøver” expresses need in “det behøver opdateringer ofte ikke”. Together with “ikke”, it says that updates often do not need the relevant direct discussion.
opdateringer “Opdateringer” means updates in “det behøver opdateringer ofte ikke”. Here it identifies the things that often do not need direct discussion.
ofte “Ofte” means often in “det behøver opdateringer ofte ikke”. It indicates that the statement applies regularly, but not necessarily every time.
ikke “Ikke” makes the clause negative in “det behøver opdateringer ofte ikke”. With “behøver”, it expresses that the updates do not need the relevant action.
Så “Så” means then or so in “Så bør vi adskille beslutningsmøder fra informationsdeling”. It connects the earlier conclusion to the proposal that follows.
vi “Vi” means we and is the subject of “Så bør vi adskille beslutningsmøder fra informationsdeling”. It includes the speaker and the other participant in the proposed action.
adskille “Adskille” means separate in “adskille beslutningsmøder fra informationsdeling”. After “bør”, it appears in the infinitive form and is followed by what is separated and “fra” the other category.
beslutningsmøder “Beslutningsmøder” means decision meetings in “adskille beslutningsmøder fra informationsdeling”. It is the first category being separated from information sharing.
fra “Fra” means from and marks the second side of the separation in “adskille beslutningsmøder fra informationsdeling”. The pattern is “adskille A fra B” for separating one thing from another.
informationsdeling “Informationsdeling” means information sharing in “adskille beslutningsmøder fra informationsdeling”. It is the category contrasted with decision meetings in the proposed distinction.
Skriftlige “Skriftlige” means written and describes “opdateringer” in “Skriftlige opdateringer ville give folk mulighed for at svare mere gennemtænkt”. It appears before the plural noun it describes.
ville “Ville” expresses a possible or expected result in “Skriftlige opdateringer ville give folk mulighed for at svare mere gennemtænkt”. It is followed by the infinitive “give”.
give “Give” means give in “ville give folk mulighed for at svare mere gennemtænkt”. The pattern “give folk mulighed for at” introduces an opportunity for people to do something.
folk “Folk” means people in “give folk mulighed for at svare mere gennemtænkt”. It identifies who would receive the opportunity described by the sentence.
mulighed “Mulighed” means opportunity or possibility in “give folk mulighed for at svare mere gennemtænkt”. The pattern “mulighed for at” introduces the action that becomes possible.
for “For” introduces the action connected to the opportunity in “mulighed for at svare mere gennemtænkt”. In the pattern “mulighed for at”, it is followed by “at” and an infinitive.
at “At” marks the infinitive in “at svare mere gennemtænkt”. It connects the opportunity with the action people would be able to perform.
svare “Svare” means respond in “at svare mere gennemtænkt”. It is the infinitive after “at” and describes the response people would give to written updates.
mere “Mere” means more in “svare mere gennemtænkt”. It increases the degree of the manner described by “gennemtænkt”.
gennemtænkt “Gennemtænkt” describes a response as carefully considered in “svare mere gennemtænkt”. With “mere”, it expresses responding in a more thoughtful or considered way.
De “De” means they in “De skaber også dokumentation”. It refers back to the written updates and functions as the subject of the sentence.
skaber “Skaber” means create in “De skaber også dokumentation”. It describes what the written updates produce and is followed by the object “dokumentation”.
også “Også” means also in “De skaber også dokumentation”. It adds documentation as an additional result of written updates.
dokumentation “Dokumentation” means documentation or records in “De skaber også dokumentation”. It names the material record created by the written updates.
som “Som” means which in “dokumentation, som er nyttig senere”. It introduces the clause that gives further information about the documentation.
nyttig “Nyttig” means useful in “som er nyttig senere”. It describes the documentation as having practical value at a later time.
senere “Senere” means later in “som er nyttig senere”. It places the usefulness of the documentation at a time after the original exchange.
Kunne “Kunne” means could in “Kunne vi afprøve den tilgang med et tilbagevendende møde?”. At the beginning of this question, it makes the proposal polite and tentative.
afprøve “Afprøve” means test or pilot in “afprøve den tilgang med et tilbagevendende møde”. It is the infinitive after “kunne” and describes trying the approach in practice.
den “Den” points to the approach already under discussion in “den tilgang”. Together with the noun, it identifies a specific approach rather than an unspecified one.
tilgang “Tilgang” means approach in “den tilgang”. It refers to the proposed way of separating decision meetings from information sharing.
med “Med” means with in “med et tilbagevendende møde”. It introduces the meeting used as the setting or means for trying the approach.
et “Et” is the indefinite article before “møde” in “et tilbagevendende møde”. It marks the meeting as one unspecified example of that type.
tilbagevendende “Tilbagevendende” means recurring in “et tilbagevendende møde”. It describes a meeting that happens repeatedly rather than only once.
møde “Møde” means meeting in “et tilbagevendende møde”. It is the noun modified by “tilbagevendende” and names the setting for the pilot.
kan “Kan” means can in “Vi kan teste det og sammenligne kvaliteten af resultaterne”. It expresses that the speakers are able or willing to carry out the two actions that follow.
teste “Teste” means test in “Vi kan teste det”. It is the infinitive after “kan” and refers to trying the proposed approach.
og “Og” means and in “teste det og sammenligne kvaliteten af resultaterne”. It joins the two coordinated actions.
sammenligne “Sammenligne” means compare in “sammenligne kvaliteten af resultaterne”. It is the second infinitive after “kan” and names the evaluation that follows the test.
kvaliteten “Kvaliteten” means the quality in “kvaliteten af resultaterne”. The definite form refers to the specific quality being evaluated.
resultaterne “Resultaterne” means the outcomes or results in “kvaliteten af resultaterne”. The definite form identifies the particular results whose quality will be compared.

Grammar Points

-s-passiv: [verb] + -s

Komplekse beslutninger drøftes direkte.

kom-PLEK-suh beh-SLOOT-ning-uh DRURF-dus dee-REK-duh.

Complex decisions are discussed directly.

The -s ending forms the passive voice: the action happens to the subject, without naming who performs it.

mulighed for at + infinitiv

Skriftlig dokumentation giver mulighed for at svare senere.

SGREFT-lee doh-koo-men-ta-SHOHN GEE-vuh moo-LEE-hayth foh ah SVAH-uh SAY-nuh-uh.

Written documentation provides an opportunity to respond later.

Use for at before an infinitive after mulighed for, similar to “the opportunity to” in English.

Danish Vocabulary

beslutninger noun
beh-SLOOT-ning-uh decisions
drøftelser noun
DRURF-del-suh discussions
forstår verb
fo-STOR understand
har gavn af phrase
har gawn av benefit from
komplekse adj
kom-PLEK-suh complex
muligt adj
MOO-lee possible
reaktioner noun
reh-ak-SHOH-nuh reactions
reducere verb
reh-doo-SAIR-uh reduce
selv om conj
sel ohm although / even though
synlige adj
SOON-lee-uh visible
unødvendige adj
oo-NUR-ven-dee-uh unnecessary
videomøder noun
VEE-dee-oh-MUR-uh video meetings

Quiz

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

unnecessary

Show Answerunødvendige

understand

Show Answerforstår

video meetings

Show Answervideomøder

possible

Show Answermuligt