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

Danish → Grammar → 0 to A1 Course → Verbs (Present Tense)

Welcome to the exciting world of Danish verbs! In today’s lesson, we will dive deep into the present tense, which is essential for expressing actions happening right now. Whether you’re sharing what you do every day, describing your hobbies, or simply chatting with friends, mastering the present tense is crucial for effective communication in Danish.

As we embark on this journey, we'll explore:

• The importance of verbs in Danish grammar

• How to conjugate regular verbs in the present tense

• Practical examples and exercises to cement your understanding

So, let’s get started!

The Importance of Verbs in Danish Grammar

Verbs are the heartbeat of any language, including Danish. They allow us to express actions, states, and occurrences. In Danish, understanding how to conjugate verbs correctly in the present tense is fundamental as it forms the basis for more complex grammatical structures later on.

Why Focus on Present Tense?

• Daily Communication: Most conversations revolve around actions happening now.

• Foundation for Learning: Understanding present tense verbs prepares you for future tenses.

• Building Confidence: Mastering basic verbs boosts your confidence in speaking and writing.

Regular Verbs in the Present Tense

Conjugation Rules

In Danish, regular verbs typically follow a predictable pattern when conjugated in the present tense. Here’s how it works:

1. Identify the verb stem: Remove the infinitive ending -e.

2. Add the present tense endings:

• -r for all subjects (I, you, he, she, we, they).

For example, the verb "at arbejde" (to work):

• arbejde → arbejd (stem) + -r → arbejder (works)

Examples of Conjugation

Let’s look at some common regular verbs and how they change in the present tense. Below are examples presented in a table format:

Danish	Pronunciation	English
at spille	at ˈspil.lə	to play
spiller	ˈspil.lər	plays
at danse	at ˈdæn.sə	to dance
danser	ˈdæn.sər	dances
at leve	at ˈleː.və	to live
lever	ˈle.vər	lives
at tale	at ˈtæː.lə	to speak
taler	ˈtæː.lər	speaks
at spise	at ˈspiː.sə	to eat
spiser	ˈspiː.sər	eats
at drikke	at ˈdʁɛ.kə	to drink
drikker	ˈdʁɛ.kər	drinks
at læse	at ˈlɛː.sə	to read
læser	ˈlɛː.sər	reads
at skrive	at ˈskriː.və	to write
skriver	ˈskriː.vər	writes
at se	at seː	to see
ser	seːr	sees
at høre	at ˈhøː.ʁə	to hear
hører	ˈhøː.ʁər	hears
at finde	at ˈfin.də	to find
finder	ˈfin.dər	finds

Summary of Regular Verb Conjugation

• Infinitive: at + verb (e.g., at spille)

• Present tense: verb stem + -r (e.g., spiller)

This consistent pattern makes learning Danish verbs more manageable!

Examples in Context

Now that we’ve covered the basics of conjugation, let’s see how these verbs fit into everyday sentences. Here are 20 examples illustrating the use of regular verbs in the present tense:

Danish	Pronunciation	English
Jeg spiller fodbold.	jæj ˈspil.lər ˈfɔbˌbɔl	I play football.
Du danser godt.	du ˈdæn.sər ˈɡɔt	You dance well.
Han lever i København.	han ˈle.vər i ˌkøː.bəˈhɑʊn	He lives in Copenhagen.
Vi taler dansk.	vi ˈtæː.lər ˈdansk	We speak Danish.
De spiser frokost.	di ˈspiː.sər ˈfʁo.kɔst	They eat lunch.
Jeg drikker kaffe.	jæj ˈdʁɛ.kər ˈkɑ.fə	I drink coffee.
Du læser en bog.	du ˈlɛː.sər en boʊ	You read a book.
Hun skriver et brev.	hun ˈskriː.vər et ˈbʁeːv	She writes a letter.
Vi ser en film.	vi seːr en film	We see a movie.
De hører musik.	di ˈhøː.ʁər muˈsiːk	They listen to music.
Jeg finder nøglerne.	jæj ˈfin.dər ˈnœj.ɡl̩.nə	I find the keys.
Du synger en sang.	du ˈsyŋ.ər en sɑŋ	You sing a song.
Han arbejder hårdt.	han ˈɑːʁ.baj.dər hɔʁd	He works hard.
Vi besøger venner.	vi beˈsøː.ʌr ˈvɛn.ər	We visit friends.
De laver mad.	di ˈle.vər mɑð	They make food.
Jeg kender svaret.	jæj ˈken.dər ˈsvɑːʁ.ɛd	I know the answer.
Du finder en løsning.	du ˈfin.dər en ˈløːs.niŋ	You find a solution.
Hun arbejder i en butik.	hun ˈɑːʁ.baj.dər i en buˈtik	She works in a store.
Vi danser til musikken.	vi ˈdæn.sər tæl muˈsiːkən	We dance to the music.
De spiller i et band.	di ˈspil.lər i et bæn	They play in a band.
Jeg hører nyhederne.	jæj ˈhøː.ʁər ˈnyːˌhɛ.ðər.nə	I hear the news.

These sentences will help you understand how to implement regular verbs in daily conversations.

Practice Exercises

Now it’s your turn to practice! Below are ten exercises designed to reinforce what you've learned about regular verbs in the present tense.

Exercise 1: Fill in the Blank

Complete the sentences with the correct present tense form of the verb in parentheses.

1. Jeg __________ (at danse) hver fredag.

2. Du __________ (at spille) guitar.

3. Han __________ (at drikke) te.

4. Vi __________ (at spise) pizza.

5. De __________ (at skrive) breve.

Exercise 2: Translate to Danish

Translate the following sentences into Danish.

1. I see the sun.

2. She reads a book.

3. We play football.

4. They dance well.

5. He drinks milk.

Exercise 3: Matching

Match the Danish sentences to their English translations.

1. Jeg arbejder i en cafe.

2. Du synger en god sang.

3. Hun lever i Aarhus.

4. Vi hører en podcast.

5. De finder det sjovt.

a. They find it fun.

b. You sing a good song.

c. I work in a cafe.

d. We listen to a podcast.

e. She lives in Aarhus.

Exercise 4: Conjugation Challenge

Conjugate the following verbs in the present tense.

1. At tale

2. At finde

3. At lave

4. At købe

5. At lege

Exercise 5: Sentence Creation

Create sentences using the following verbs in the present tense.

1. At spise

2. At danse

3. At spille

4. At læse

5. At høre

Exercise 6: True or False

Determine whether the following statements are true or false.

1. "Hun synger" means "She sings."

2. "Vi drikker" means "They drink."

3. "Jeg lever" means "I live."

4. "De taler" means "You speak."

5. "Du finder" means "You find."

Exercise 7: Conversation Practice

Write a short dialogue between two people using at least five present tense verbs.

Exercise 8: Verb Identification

Read the following sentences and identify the verb in each:

1. Jeg ser en film.

2. Du hører musik.

3. Han arbejder i en butik.

4. Vi danser til fest.

5. De spiser frokost.

Exercise 9: Fill in the Correct Form

Fill in the correct present tense form of the verb in parentheses.

1. Jeg __________ (at leve) i Danmark.

2. Du __________ (at danse) godt.

3. Han __________ (at spille) klaver.

4. Vi __________ (at spise) is.

5. De __________ (at drikke) vand.

Exercise 10: Rewrite

Rewrite the following sentences, replacing the verb with a different regular verb in present tense.

1. Jeg spiller fodbold.

2. Du danser godt.

3. Han drikker kaffe.

4. Vi læser en bog.

5. De synger en sang.

Solutions and Explanations

Now let’s review the answers to the exercises to help you understand where you might need improvement.

Exercise 1: Fill in the Blank

1. Jeg danser hver fredag.

2. Du spiller guitar.

3. Han drikker te.

4. Vi spiser pizza.

5. De skriver breve.

Exercise 2: Translate to Danish

1. I ser solen.

2. She læser en bog.

3. We spiller fodbold.

4. They danser godt.

5. He drikker mælk.

Exercise 3: Matching

1 → c

2 → b

3 → e

4 → d

5 → a

Exercise 4: Conjugation Challenge

1. At tale → taler

2. At finde → finder

3. At lave → laver

4. At købe → køber

5. At lege → leger

Exercise 5: Sentence Creation

Example sentences:

• Jeg spiser pizza.

• Du danser til musikken.

• Hun spiller klaver.

• Vi læser avisen.

• De hører radioen.

Exercise 6: True or False

1. True

2. False (It means "We drink.")

3. True

4. False (It means "They speak.")

5. True

Exercise 7: Conversation Practice

Example dialogue:

• A: Hej! Hvad laver du? (Hi! What are you doing?)

• B: Jeg spiller guitar. Og du? (I play guitar. And you?)

• A: Jeg danser til musikken. (I dance to the music.)

Exercise 8: Verb Identification

1. ser

2. hører

3. arbejder

4. danser

5. spiser

Exercise 9: Fill in the Correct Form

1. Jeg lever i Danmark.

2. Du danser godt.

3. Han spiller klaver.

4. Vi spiser is.

5. De drikker vand.

Exercise 10: Rewrite

Example rewrites:

1. Jeg danser fodbold.

2. Du spiller godt.

3. Han læser kaffe.

4. Vi synger en bog.

5. De spiser en sang.

Congratulations on completing this lesson! You've taken a significant step toward mastering Danish present tense verbs. Keep practicing, and soon, you'll be able to express yourself fluently in Danish. Remember, practice makes perfect!

Table of Contents - Danish Course - 0 to A1

• Course Presentation

  ---

Introduction to Danish Alphabet and Pronunciation

• Danish Alphabet
• Pronunciation Basics

  ---

Everyday Phrases and Greetings

• Greetings and Introductions
• Common Phrases

  ---

Basic Sentence Structure and Word Order

• Subject-Verb-Object
• Questions and Negations

  ---

Numbers, Dates, and Time

• Numbers 1-100
• Days, Months, and Seasons
• Telling Time

  ---

Nouns and Articles

• Definite and Indefinite Articles
• Plurals and Possessives

  ---

Family, Relationships, and Occupations

• Family Members
• Relationships
• Occupations

  ---

Adjectives and Adverbs

• Adjective Forms and Agreement
• Comparatives and Superlatives
• Adverbs

  ---

Food, Drinks, and Dining

• Food and Drinks
• Dining Out

  ---

Verbs and Tenses

• Regular Verbs
• Irregular Verbs
• Modal Verbs

  ---

Travel and Transportation

• Modes of Transportation
• Travel Vocabulary

  ---

Danish Culture and Traditions

• Holidays and Celebrations
• Danish Customs and Etiquette

Sources

• Danish Verb Tenses with Audio - ielanguages.com
• Danish grammar - Wikipedia
• The Top 20 Most Common Verbs In Danish

Other Lessons

• Verbs (Past Tense)
• Verbs (Perfect Tense)
• Cardinal Numbers in Danish
• Pronouns
• Nouns
• The Nominative Case in Danish
• Possessive Case in Danish
• Questions
• Word Order
• Adverbs