Language/Danish/Grammar/Verbs-(Perfect-Tense)

Danish → Grammar → Verbs (Perfect Tense)

As a Danish language teacher with more than 20 years of experience, I have come to realize that learning the perfect tense can be challenging for many learners. However, with practice and dedication, mastering this verb tense can greatly enhance your Danish language skills. In this lesson, we will cover the formation of the perfect tense with regular and irregular verbs.

Regular Verbs

To form the perfect tense with regular verbs, we use the auxiliary verb "har" (have) in combination with the past participle of the main verb.

Here is an example of the perfect tense with the regular verb "at danse" (to dance):

Danish	Pronunciation	English
Jeg har danset	[jɑj hɑː dænˀsɛd]	I have danced

Note that the past participle of regular verbs in Danish is formed by adding -et to the infinitive stem for verbs with a final -e, and -t for those without.

Here are some more examples of regular verbs in the perfect tense:

Danish	Pronunciation	English
Han har spist	[hɑn hɑː spiːsd]	He has eaten
De har set	[de hɑː sɛd]	They have seen
Vi har læst	[vi hɑː lɛst]	We have read

Remember to match the gender and number of the auxiliary verb "har" with the subject of the sentence.

Irregular Verbs

Irregular verbs in the perfect tense do not follow the same pattern as regular verbs. Their past participle does not end in -et or -t and must be memorized.

Here is an example of the perfect tense with the irregular verb "at være" (to be):

Danish	Pronunciation	English
Jeg har været	[jɑj hɑː væːrɛd]	I have been

Here are some more examples of irregular verbs in the perfect tense:

Danish	Pronunciation	English
Han har sagt	[hɑn hɑː saj]	He has said
De har gjort	[de hɑː kʁɔd]	They have done
Vi har fået	[vi hɑː fɔɪt]	We have received

It's important to note that irregular verbs often have irregular past participles, so be sure to memorize them.

Exceptions

There are a few exceptions to keep in mind when forming the perfect tense. Some verbs that use "er" as a suffix in the present tense, such as "at lære" (to learn) and "at køre" (to drive), use "har" as an auxiliary verb instead of "er".

Here is an example with "at lære":

Danish	Pronunciation	English
Jeg har lært	[jɑj hɑː lɛɐ̯d]	I have learned

Be aware of these exceptions and make sure to consult a reliable grammar resource for additional information.

Conclusion

Learning the perfect tense with regular and irregular verbs is crucial for developing advanced Danish language skills. Remember to practice, memorize irregular verbs, and consult reliable grammar resources in order to master this verb tense. Keep up the good work, and you will soon see the results of your hard work and dedication!

• Practice forming the perfect tense with regular and irregular verbs.
• Memorize irregular verbs and their past participles.
• Consult reliable grammar resources for additional information.

Related Lessons

• Indefinite Articles in Danish
• Pronouns
• The Ablative Case in Danish
• Prepositions
• Give your Opinion
• How to use “there to be” in Danish
• Passive Voice
• The Nominative Case in Danish
• The Dative Case in Danish
• Verbs in Danish

Sources

• Danish Perfect Verb Tenses - ielanguages.com
• Danish grammar - Wikipedia