Basic Permission Questions | Learn Danish in English

Danish lesson set in a contemporary Copenhagen everyday setting: A beginner practices six useful English phrases about basic permission questions..

EN → DA / Level: A1

About This Lesson

Use Basic Permission Questions to practice Danish conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

A

Må jeg bruge den her?

MOH yai BROO-uh den HAIR? Can I use this?
B

Må jeg sidde her?

MOH yai SEH-thuh HAIR? Can I sit here?
A

Må jeg komme ind?

MOH yai KOM-uh EN? Can I come in?
B

Må jeg se den?

MOH yai SAY den? Can I see it?
A

Må jeg prøve den?

MOH yai PRUH-vuh den? Can I try it?
B

Må jeg få den her?

MOH yai FOH den HAIR? Can I have this?

Word by Word

Må “Må” asks whether the speaker has permission to do something in these questions. It appears in the reusable pattern “Må jeg + verb?”, followed by an action such as “bruge” or “sidde”. Use this form when asking another person for permission.
jeg “jeg” means “I” and identifies the speaker as the person who wants to act. In “Må jeg”, it is the subject of the permission question. Reuse “jeg” when talking about your own actions or requests.
bruge “bruge” means “use” in “Må jeg bruge den her?”. It is the action that follows “Må jeg” in this permission question. The reusable pattern is “Må jeg bruge + object?”, for example when asking to use someone’s item.
den “den” refers to the specific thing being used, seen, tried, or received in the dialogue. It is the object in “bruge den”, “se den”, and “prøve den”; in “den her”, it refers to the indicated item. Use “den” when the thing is clear from the situation.
her “her” means “here” in “sidde her”, referring to the place where the speaker wants to sit. In “den her”, it points to a nearby or indicated item, while “den” supplies the reference to the item. Use “her” to identify a nearby place or thing in context.
sidde “sidde” means “sit” in “Må jeg sidde her?”. It names the action for which the speaker is asking permission. The phrase is useful when asking whether you may occupy a particular seat or place.
komme “komme” means “come” in “Må jeg komme ind?”. It describes the speaker’s movement toward the place being entered. Use the expression “komme ind” when asking permission to enter a room or building.
ind “ind” means “in” and shows movement into an inside place in “komme ind”. Its meaning here comes from the movement expression together with “komme”, not from “ind” alone. Use “komme ind” at a doorway or entrance when asking to enter.
se “se” means “see” in “Må jeg se den?”. It names the action of looking at the specific item referred to by “den”. Use the pattern “Må jeg se + object?” when asking permission to look at something.
prøve “prøve” means “try” in “Må jeg prøve den?”. It refers to testing or trying the item named by “den”. Use “Må jeg prøve + object?” when asking permission to test or try something.
få “få” means “get” or “receive” in “Må jeg få den her?”. Here the speaker asks whether they may receive the indicated item, rather than merely use it. Use the pattern “Må jeg få + object?” when asking someone to give you something.

Grammar Points

den her

den her

den HAIR

this one

This demonstrative phrase means “this one”; her follows den and points to something nearby.

komme ind

komme ind

KOM-uh EN

come in

These two words form a fixed verb phrase meaning “come in”; ind shows movement into a place.

Danish Vocabulary

bruge verb
BROO-uh use
den pron
den it; that one
den her phrase
den HAIR this one
få verb
FOH have; get
her adv
HAIR here
jeg pron
yai I
komme ind phrase
KOM-uh EN come in
prøve verb
PRUH-vuh try
se verb
SAY see
sidde verb
SEH-thuh sit

Quiz

Word Order

Arrange the words in the correct order.

Can I use this?

Show AnswerMå jeg bruge den her?

Can I sit here?

Show AnswerMå jeg sidde her?

Can I come in?

Show AnswerMå jeg komme ind?

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

use

Show Answerbruge

sit

Show Answersidde

try

Show Answerprøve

have; get

Show Answerfå