Checking a restaurant order before the food is served | Learn Danish in English

Sentence explanations

1. Kan vi gennemgå vores bestilling, før maden bliver serveret?

   Could we review our order before the food comes out?

   Kan vi

   Could we

   gennemgå

   review

   vores

   our

   bestilling

   order

   før

   before

   maden

   the food

   bliver serveret

   is served

   More detail

   Kan vi combines kan with vi. Kan is the present form of kunne, meaning “can” or “be able to”; in this question, it makes a polite request: “Could we …?” Danish modal verbs are followed by an infinitive without at. Example: Kan vi vente? — “Could we wait?” gennemgå means to review or go through something systematically. It is the infinitive form, used after the modal kan. Example: Vi gennemgår planen. — “We review the plan.” vores means “our.” It is a possessive form referring to the speaker together with at least one other person. Vores does not change for the gender or number of the possessed noun. Example: vores bord — “our table”; vores borde — “our tables.” bestilling means an order, especially an order for food or goods. It is a common-gender noun; its indefinite form is en bestilling, and its definite singular form is bestillingen — “the order.” Example: Jeg ændrer min bestilling. — “I am changing my order.” før means “before.” Here it introduces the event that sets the time limit for the proposed review. In Danish, før can introduce a clause, as in this sentence, or a noun phrase: før mødet — “before the meeting.” maden means “the food.” It consists of mad (“food”) plus the definite singular ending -en; Danish commonly marks definiteness on the noun itself. Example: Maden er varm. — “The food is hot.” bliver serveret is a passive construction meaning “is served” here. Bliver is the present form of blive, and serveret is the past participle of servere (“serve”). Together, blive plus a past participle commonly presents an action as happening to the subject. The food is therefore the thing being served; the person serving it is not specified. Example: Maden bliver serveret klokken seks. — “The food is served at six.” Together, Kan vi gennemgå vores bestilling asks whether the speakers may review their order. før maden bliver serveret places that review before the food is served. The complete meaning is: “Could we review our order before the food comes out?”

2. Hvad vil du gerne have bekræftet?

   What would you like to confirm?

   Hvad

   what

   vil du gerne

   would you like

   have

   have

   bekræftet

   confirmed

   More detail

   Hvad means “what” and asks for the thing or information involved. It is a question word, not a statement about a particular object. Example: Hvad læser du? — “What are you reading?” vil du gerne expresses a polite wish or preference: “would you like”. vil is the present form of ville; with du it forms a question through the order vil du .... gerne adds the idea of being willing or pleased to do something. Example: Vil du gerne sidde her? — “Would you like to sit here?” have is the infinitive of at have, “to have”. After vil ... gerne, it introduces the action or result the person would like. In this sentence it combines with the following participle in have bekræftet, giving the intended meaning “to confirm”. bekræftet is the past participle of bekræfte, “to confirm”. Here it follows have in the combination have bekræftet; the complete combination refers to confirming something. Example: Jeg vil gerne have bekræftet tidspunktet. — “I would like to confirm the time.” Together, Hvad asks what is involved, vil du gerne asks about the listener’s preference, and have bekræftet identifies the desired action. The whole utterance therefore means “What would you like to confirm?”

3. Jeg bad om den milde version, ikke den stærke.

   I asked for the mild version, not the spicy one.

   Jeg

   I

   bad om

   asked for

   milde

   mild

   version

   version

   ikke

   not

   stærke

   spicy one

   More detail

   Jeg means “I” here: it is the first-person singular subject pronoun. It does not change for grammatical gender. Example: Jeg kommer. — “I am coming.” bad om is the past-tense form of bede om, “to ask for/request.” The form bad is the past of bede; om belongs to this verb pattern. Example: Jeg bad om vand. — “I asked for water.” milde means “mild” here. Its base form is mild; milde is the form used with the definite noun phrase den ... version. The adjective describes the requested version, not the person asking. Example: den milde sauce — “the mild sauce.” version means “version.” It is a noun of Danish common gender, which is why the definite article here is den. Example: Jeg vælger denne version. — “I choose this version.” ikke means “not.” It introduces the contrast with the alternative named after it. stærke means “spicy” in this fixed context. Its base form is stærk, whose more general meaning is “strong”; here the translation establishes the intended food-related sense “spicy.” After den, the adjective is used substantively, so den stærke means “the spicy one,” with the noun understood from the preceding phrase. Example: Jeg vil have den stærke. — “I want the spicy one.” Together, Jeg bad om den milde version says “I asked for the mild version.” ikke den stærke adds the contrasting choice, “not the spicy one.” The complete utterance therefore means: “I asked for the mild version, not the spicy one.”

4. Lad mig tjekke det med køkkenet.

   Let me check that with the kitchen.

   Lad mig

   let me

   tjekke

   check

   det

   that

   med

   with

   køkkenet

   the kitchen

   More detail

   Lad mig is a reusable Danish way to say “let me …”. Lad is the imperative of lade (“to let/allow”), and mig is the object form of jeg (“I”). In this construction, lad mig is followed by an infinitive: Lad mig se. = “Let me see.” tjekke is the infinitive of tjekke, “to check”. The infinitive follows lad mig and names the action the speaker asks to perform. For example, Lad mig tjekke menuen. means “Let me check the menu.” det means “that” here. It is a Danish pronoun referring to something already identified in the situation; the fixed translation supports “that”, but does not specify a more precise referent. Det can also be the neuter singular form used with a neuter noun, so its grammatical form and its contextual reference should be kept separate. med means “with” and introduces the person, group, or place involved in checking something. In this sentence it links the checking to køkkenet. køkkenet means “the kitchen”. Its base noun is køkken; the ending -et marks the definite singular form: et køkken = “a kitchen”, køkkenet = “the kitchen”. The form itself does not state a number beyond singularity in this definite noun phrase. Together, Lad mig tjekke det means “Let me check that”, and med køkkenet specifies that the checking will be done with or through the kitchen. The complete utterance is therefore “Let me check that with the kitchen.”

5. Tilbehøret er den del, jeg er mest bekymret for.

   The side dish is the part I am most worried about.

   Tilbehøret

   the side dish

   del

   part

   jeg er

   I am

   mest bekymret for

   most worried about

   More detail

   Tilbehøret is the definite singular form of tilbehør. In this sentence, the fixed translation identifies it as “the side dish.” The ending -et marks the definite form of this neuter noun: et tilbehør → tilbehøret. For example, Tilbehøret er klart. means “The side dish is ready.” del means “part” here. Its common reusable form is en del “a part,” while the definite form is delen “the part.” In den del, den is the form used with this common-gender noun in this noun phrase; together they mean “the part.” jeg er combines the first-person pronoun jeg “I” with the present-tense form er of være “to be.” Er is also used with other singular subjects, so the pronoun identifies the first-person subject here. For example, Jeg er klar. means “I am ready.” mest bekymret for expresses “most worried about.” Bekymret is the adjective “worried” or “concerned,” and the usual pattern is være bekymret for + the thing causing concern. Mest marks the highest degree: bekymret “worried” → mere bekymret “more worried” → mest bekymret “most worried.” The preposition for belongs to the pattern and introduces what the concern is about. For example, Jeg er bekymret for tiden. means “I am worried about the weather.” In the full structure, den del means “the part,” and the following clause jeg er mest bekymret for describes which part: literally, “the part [that] I am most worried about.” The comma separates the noun phrase from this following relative clause; Danish can leave the relative object unexpressed when it is understood from den del. Thus Tilbehøret er den del, jeg er mest bekymret for. means “The side dish is the part I am most worried about.”

6. Jeg kan tilføje en tydelig note, så bestillingen bliver tilberedt korrekt.

   I can add a clear note so the order is prepared correctly.

   Jeg kan

   I can

   tilføje

   add

   tydelig

   clear

   note

   note

   så

   so that

   bestillingen

   the order

   bliver tilberedt

   is prepared

   korrekt

   correctly

   More detail

   Jeg kan combines the subject jeg (“I”) with kan, the present form of kunne (“can; be able to”). After kan, Danish uses the infinitive without at: Jeg kan tilføje means “I can add.” Kan does not change for the subject: jeg kan, du kan, and de kan all use kan. tilføje is the infinitive “to add.” Its present tense is tilføjer: Jeg tilføjer en note means “I am adding a note.” The verb can introduce the thing being added directly, as in tilføje en note. tydelig means “clear” here, in the sense of easy to understand. It is the adjective modifying note, which is common gender singular. With a neuter noun, the form is often tydeligt, and before a plural noun it is tydelige: et tydeligt skilt means “a clear sign,” while tydelige beskeder means “clear messages.” note is the noun “note.” The indefinite phrase en note presents a note as an indefinite item; the article by itself does not assert a specific numerical count. Its definite form is noten, “the note,” and its plural is noter, “notes.” så introduces the purpose or result clause “so that” here. It links the act of adding the note with the intended condition described in the following clause. For example, Skriv det tydeligt, så alle forstår det means “Write it clearly so that everyone understands it.” bestillingen is the definite singular form of bestilling, “order.” The ending -en marks the common-gender definite singular: en bestilling is “an order,” while bestillingen is “the order.” Here, the fixed translation identifies it as the order being discussed, and the next clause refers to its preparation. bliver tilberedt expresses passive preparation: bliver is the present form of blive (“become; get”), and tilberedt is the past participle of tilberede (“prepare”). In this construction, bliver tilberedt means “is prepared” or “gets prepared.” The item being prepared is bestillingen; the sentence does not state who prepares it. A reusable pattern is Maden bliver tilberedt — “The food is prepared.” korrekt is the adverb “correctly” here. It describes how the order is prepared, not the noun bestillingen. The related adjective is also korrekt, as in en korrekt oplysning (“a correct piece of information”); the form does not change when used as this adverb. Together, Jeg kan tilføje en tydelig note means “I can add a clear note.” The clause så bestillingen bliver tilberedt korrekt gives the purpose or intended result: “so that the order is prepared correctly.” The complete utterance is therefore: “I can add a clear note so that the order is prepared correctly.”

7. Det hjælper. Vi vil bare gerne have, at måltidet passer til vores bestilling.

   That helps. We just want the meal to match our order.

   Det hjælper

   That helps

   Vi vil bare gerne have

   we just want

   måltidet

   the meal

   passer til

   match; suit

   vores

   our

   bestilling

   order

   More detail

   Det hjælper means “That helps.” Det is a neuter singular pronoun; here it refers to the helpful situation or action identified by the context, without needing to name a specific noun. Hjælper is the present-tense form of hjælpe (“help”): jeg hjælper = “I help,” det hjælper = “it/that helps.” Example: Det hjælper meget. — “That helps a lot.” Vi vil bare gerne have is a reusable way to say “we just want.” Vi is “we,” and vil gerne have expresses wanting something; bare limits the statement to “just/only.” The verb vil is the present form of ville, while have is the infinitive after it. Example: Vi vil gerne have te. — “We would like tea.” Måltidet means “the meal.” It is the definite singular form of måltid: et måltid = “a meal,” måltidet = “the meal.” The ending -et marks this noun as definite and neuter. Example: Måltidet er klart. — “The meal is ready.” Passer til means “fits” or “suits” something. Passer is the present form of passe; til introduces what something fits or is suitable for. In this sentence, the meal should correspond to the order, not merely fit physically. Example: Farven passer til rummet. — “The color suits the room.” Vores means “our.” It is a possessive form used with a first-person plural possessor (“we”), and it does not change for the gender or number of the noun that follows: vores måltid and vores bestilling both use vores. Example: Vores bord er her. — “Our table is here.” Bestilling means “order,” here an order for the meal. It is a common-gender noun: en bestilling = “an order.” With the possessive vores, the noun remains in its ordinary singular form: vores bestilling = “our order.” Example: Jeg ændrer min bestilling. — “I am changing my order.” Together, Vi vil bare gerne have introduces what the speakers want, and at måltidet passer til vores bestilling states the desired result: “that the meal matches our order.” The complete utterance is therefore: “That helps. We just want the meal to match our order.”

8. Det forstår jeg. Det er bedre at tjekke, før maden kommer.

   I understand. It is better to check before the food arrives.

   Det forstår jeg

   I understand

   bedre

   better

   tjekke

   check

   før

   before

   maden

   the food

   kommer

   comes; arrives

   More detail

   Det forstår jeg means “I understand” here. forstår is the present-tense form of forstå (“understand”). The pronoun jeg means “I”; it appears after the verb in this clause because Det is placed first. In this fixed utterance, Det refers generally to what has just been said or understood; the exact content is not specified. bedre means “better” and is the comparative form of god (“good”): god → bedre → bedst (“best”). In Det er bedre, the comparison expresses that checking is the preferable option, without stating a specific comparison partner. at tjekke is the infinitive “to check.” Danish commonly uses at before an infinitive: at tjekke, “to check.” After er bedre, this gives the pattern Det er bedre at + infinitive, meaning “It is better to …” For example: Det er bedre at vente. — “It is better to wait.” før introduces a time clause and means “before.” It is followed here by maden kommer, so the pattern is før + clause: “before the food arrives.” maden means “the food.” It is the definite singular form of mad (“food”): mad → maden. The ending -en marks the definite form for this noun; it is not a separate word. kommer means “comes” or, in this context, “arrives.” It is the present-tense form of komme (“come/arrive”). The subject is maden, so the clause literally has the structure “the food arrives.” Together, Det er bedre at tjekke gives “It is better to check,” and før maden kommer adds the time condition “before the food arrives.” The complete utterance means: “I understand. It is better to check before the food arrives.”

9. Kan du bekræfte bestillingen, før maden bliver serveret?

   Could you confirm the order before the food is served?

   Kan du

   Can you

   bekræfte

   confirm

   bestillingen

   the order

   før

   before

   maden

   the food

   bliver serveret

   is served

   More detail

   Kan du is a reusable way to ask whether someone can or is willing to do something. kan is the present form of kunne (“can”), and du is the second-person singular pronoun (“you”). In a question, the modal verb comes before the subject: Kan du hjælpe? — “Can you help?” bekræfte is the infinitive “to confirm.” After a modal such as kan, Danish uses the infinitive without an English-style “to”: Kan du bekræfte ...? — “Can you confirm ...?” The verb means verifying or stating that something is correct. bestillingen means “the order” here. Its base noun is bestilling; the ending -en marks the definite singular form, presenting the order as identifiable in the context. Example: Jeg ændrer bestillingen. — “I am changing the order.” før means “before” and introduces the event that sets the time relationship. It can introduce a clause with a verb: Ring, før du kommer. — “Call before you come.” maden means “the food.” The base noun is mad, and -en marks its definite singular form. Here the fixed translation identifies it as “the food”; the form presents that food as identifiable in the situation. Example: Maden er klar. — “The food is ready.” bliver serveret expresses “is served.” bliver is the present form of blive, and serveret is the past participle of servere (“serve”). Together they form a present passive construction: the food receives the action, while the person serving it is not specified. Compare the active example Personalet serverer maden. — “The staff serve the food.” The utterance combines the request pattern Kan du with the infinitive bekræfte and its object bestillingen: “Can you confirm the order?” The clause før maden bliver serveret adds the time condition “before the food is served.” Together, the complete meaning is: “Could you confirm the order before the food is served?”

10. Lad mig tjekke det nu og fortælle dig, hvis noget skal ændres.

    Let me check now and tell you if anything needs changing.

    Lad mig

    let me

    tjekke

    check

    det

    it; that

    fortælle

    tell

    dig

    you

    noget

    anything; something

    skal ændres

    needs changing

    More detail

    Lad mig is the reusable Danish “let me” construction. lad is the imperative of lade (“to let”), and mig is the first-person singular object form (“me”). After this construction, the person who is being allowed to act is followed by an infinitive: Lad mig se. — “Let me see.” tjekke is the infinitive “to check.” It follows Lad mig; the sentence therefore presents checking as the action the speaker is asking or offering to do. The spelling with -e is the infinitive form. Example: Jeg vil tjekke det. — “I want to check it.” det is a neuter singular pronoun meaning “it” here. It refers to the matter being checked, without the supplied sentence identifying that matter more specifically. Danish also uses det as a neuter singular demonstrative (“that”), but the fixed translation supports the pronoun meaning here. fortælle is the infinitive “to tell.” It is coordinated with tjekke by the intervening og (“and”), so Lad mig tjekke ... og fortælle ... means “Let me check ... and tell ...”: both infinitives belong to the Lad mig construction. Example: Jeg vil fortælle dig sandheden. — “I will tell you the truth.” dig is the object form of the second-person pronoun, “you.” It is singular; the plural object form is jer. In this sentence, dig is the person who will receive the information. noget is an indefinite pronoun meaning “something” or, as in this conditional context, “anything.” It does not name a specific thing. Example: Hvis du ser noget, så sig til. — “If you see anything, let me know.” skal ændres combines skal with the passive infinitive ændres. skal can express that something is required or expected; here the fixed translation gives the meaning “needs to.” ændres means “be changed” and is the passive form of ændre (“to change”). The subject of this passive clause is noget: the sentence says that something needs to be changed, without saying who will change it. Compare active Nogen skal ændre det. — “Someone needs to change it.” Together, Lad mig tjekke det nu og fortælle dig means “Let me check it now and tell you,” while hvis noget skal ændres means “if anything needs changing.” The whole utterance is therefore: “Let me check now and tell you if anything needs changing.”