Improving Office Recycling | Learn Danish in English

Sentence explanations

1. Vi har sorteringsspande på kontoret, men folk virker forvirrede.

   We have recycling bins in the office, but people seem confused.

   Vi

   we

   har

   have

   sorteringsspande

   recycling bins

   kontoret

   the office

   folk

   people

   virker

   seem

   forvirrede

   confused

   More detail

   Vi means “we”: the speaker includes themself and at least one other person. Danish subject pronouns include jeg “I” and du “you”; vi is the first-person plural form. har is the present-tense form of have, “to have.” It can express possession or an available resource, as here: “We have …”. Example: Vi har tid. — “We have time.” sorteringsspande means “recycling bins” here. It is the plural of sorteringsspand, a compound meaning a bin intended for sorting waste. The plural ending is -e; the singular indefinite form is en sorteringsspand, while the definite singular is sorteringsspanden. på means “at/on” in the location pattern used here. kontoret means “the office”: kontor is “office,” and -et marks the definite singular form for this noun. Thus på kontoret means “in/at the office.” The choice between “at” and “in” in English is determined by the natural translation of the location, not by changing the Danish phrase. folk means “people.” In Danish it is a plural-form noun referring to people collectively; it does not take a plural ending in this form. Example: Folk venter. — “People are waiting.” virker is the present-tense form of virke, “to seem” or “to appear” in this construction. It links the subject with an apparent quality: folk virker ... means “people seem ...”. This is different from se, “to see,” which describes visual perception. Example: Hun virker træt. — “She seems tired.” forvirrede means “confused” here. It is the form of the adjective forvirret used with the plural subject folk; Danish adjectives commonly use -e with plural subjects. The same adjective can describe a singular common-gender subject as forvirret, as in Han virker forvirret. — “He seems confused.” The conjunction men means “but” and contrasts the two parts. First, Vi har sorteringsspande på kontoret states that the group has recycling bins in the office. Then folk virker forvirrede says that people seem confused, without stating that every person is confused or explaining the cause. Together: “We have recycling bins in the office, but people seem confused.”

2. Etiketterne er nok for upræcise til daglig brug.

   The labels are probably too vague for daily use.

   Etiketterne

   the labels

   er nok

   are probably

   upræcise

   vague

   daglig

   daily

   brug

   use

   More detail

   Etiketterne means “the labels” here. The noun etiket means “label”; etiketter is its plural, and the ending -ne marks the definite plural: etiketterne = “the labels.” er nok combines the present form er of være (“to be”) with nok, which here means “probably” or “likely.” The construction expresses a tentative assessment: Det er nok rigtigt. = “That is probably correct.” In this sentence, nok does not mean “enough.” upræcise means “vague” or “imprecise” here. It is the plural form of the adjective upræcis, agreeing with the plural subject etiketterne. The prefix u- gives the negative meaning “not,” so upræcis contrasts with præcis (“precise”). A useful pattern is for + adjective + til ..., meaning “too + adjective + for ...”: for dyr til studerende = “too expensive for students.” daglig means “daily” or “everyday.” It describes the noun brug in the fixed phrase daglig brug (“daily use”). Compare dagligt in a phrase where the adjective has a different grammatical form, such as dagligt arbejde (“daily work”); the form depends on the noun’s grammatical properties. brug means “use” in this phrase. It is a noun related to the verb bruge (“to use”), but the noun itself is not an inflected form of that verb. i daglig brug is a reusable expression meaning “in daily use”; here, til daglig brug means “for daily use.” Together, Etiketterne er nok says “The labels are probably,” and for upræcise til daglig brug says “too vague for daily use.” The complete utterance is therefore: “The labels are probably too vague for daily use.”

3. Vi bør gøre sorteringsreglerne enklere og mere synlige.

   We should make sorting rules simpler and more visible.

   Vi bør

   we should

   gøre

   make

   sorteringsreglerne

   the sorting rules

   enklere

   simpler

   mere synlige

   more visible

   More detail

   Vi bør means “we should.” Vi is the first-person plural pronoun, used for a group including the speaker. Bør is a modal form expressing recommendation or expected action here; it is followed by the infinitive gøre without at. Compare Vi bør vente — “We should wait.” Gøre is the infinitive of “to make” or “to do”; in this sentence it means “make.” After the modal bør, it remains in the bare infinitive. In the pattern gøre X + adjective, the adjective describes the result or new state of X: gøre planen enklere means “make the plan simpler.” Sorteringsreglerne means “the sorting rules.” It is a definite plural noun: regel is “rule,” regler is its plural, and reglerne is “the rules.” Sorterings- specifies the type of rules, producing the compound noun “sorting rules.” The definite plural ending is part of the observed word; it does not mean that the rules are being counted in this sentence. Enklere means “simpler.” It is the comparative form of enkel (“simple”). The comparative suffix -ere marks a comparison, even though the standard Danish sentence does not state what the rules are simpler than. In gøre sorteringsreglerne enklere, it presents simplicity as the resulting property of the rules. Compare enkel — “simple,” enklere — “simpler,” and enklest — “simplest.” Mere synlige means “more visible.” Synlige is the plural/definite form of the adjective synlig (“visible”); Danish adjectives commonly use -e in plural or definite contexts. Mere makes the comparison with “more.” Thus mere synlige describes the rules as becoming easier to see or notice. A related example is gøre skiltene mere synlige — “make the signs more visible.” Together, Vi bør gøre expresses the recommendation “we should make,” sorteringsreglerne identifies what should be changed, and enklere og mere synlige gives the two resulting properties: simpler and more visible. The complete meaning is: “We should make the sorting rules simpler and more visible.”

4. Visuelle eksempler ved siden af spandene ville mindske fejl.

   Visual examples near the bins would reduce mistakes.

   Visuelle

   visual

   eksempler

   examples

   ved siden af

   beside; near

   spandene

   the bins

   ville

   would

   mindske

   reduce

   fejl

   mistakes

   More detail

   Visuelle describes eksempler as visual. It is the form of visuel used with plural nouns and with definite noun phrases. The forms are visuel (common-gender singular), visuelt (neuter singular), and visuelle (plural or definite). Example: et visuelt eksempel = “a visual example.” eksempler means “examples.” It is the plural of eksempel; the indefinite singular is et eksempel, and the indefinite plural is eksempler. ved siden af is a reusable prepositional expression meaning “beside” or “next to.” With a noun, it places something in relation to that noun: Bogen ligger ved siden af computeren. = “The book is next to the computer.” spandene means “the bins” here. It is the definite plural of spand: et spand = “a bin” and spandene = “the bins.” The ending -ene marks plural definiteness here. ville means “would” here. In this sentence it is the past form of the modal verb whose infinitive is ville and whose present form is vil; with the infinitive mindske, it expresses a conditional or hypothetical result. The pattern is ville + infinitive: Det ville hjælpe. = “That would help.” mindske means “reduce” or “lessen.” It is the infinitive form, used after the modal ville; Danish does not add an infinitive marker equivalent to English “to” after this modal. Example: Det kan mindske risikoen. = “It can reduce the risk.” fejl means “mistakes” here. The form is also used for the plural of en fejl; Danish nouns can have a plural form without a visible ending, as in en fejl / flere fejl. The definite plural is fejlene, “the mistakes.” Together, Visuelle eksempler ved siden af spandene is the subject: “visual examples beside the bins.” ville mindske fejl says that they “would reduce mistakes.” Thus the complete utterance means: “Visual examples near the bins would reduce mistakes.”

5. Jeg synes også, at der bør bestilles færre engangsartikler.

   I also think fewer disposable supplies should be ordered.

   Jeg synes

   I think

   også

   also

   der bør

   there should be

   bestilles

   be ordered

   færre

   fewer

   engangsartikler

   disposable supplies

   More detail

   Jeg synes means “I think” here. Jeg is the first-person singular subject, “I,” and synes is the present-tense form of synes, used for an opinion or impression. A reusable pattern is Jeg synes, at ... = “I think that ...”. Example: Jeg synes, at planen er god. — “I think the plan is good.” også adds “also” to the speaker’s opinion. It normally applies to the proposition that follows or to the speaker’s agreement with another view; here, the speaker also thinks that fewer supplies should be ordered. der bør begins an impersonal construction. der is a formal subject used when no specific person is presented as the actor, while bør is the present form of the modal verb bør, expressing that something ought to happen or is advisable. The relevant pattern is der bør + passive verb = “something should be ...”. Bør does not identify who should perform the action. bestilles is the present passive form of bestille, “to order.” The passive presents the supplies as what should be ordered, without naming the person or organization placing the order. Compare the active form bestiller: De bestiller varer. — “They order goods.” færre is the comparative quantity form related to få, “few,” and is used with countable plural items. The useful chain is få — “few,” færre — “fewer,” færrest — “fewest.” Example: Vi skal bruge færre kasser. — “We need fewer boxes.” engangsartikler is the plural indefinite form of engangsartikel, meaning “disposable article/item.” The compound contains engangs-, “single-use,” and artikler, “articles/items”; in this sentence, the fixed translation gives the intended practical sense “supplies.” Example: Butikken sælger engangsartikler. — “The shop sells disposable items.” Together, Jeg synes også expresses the speaker’s additional opinion. at der bør bestilles says that ordering ought to take place without specifying the ordering actor, and færre engangsartikler identifies a smaller number of disposable supplies as the items to be ordered. The whole utterance means: “I also think fewer disposable supplies should be ordered.”

6. Det kræver ændringer i indkøbene, ikke bare påmindelser.

   That requires procurement changes, not just reminders.

   Det

   that

   kræver

   requires

   ændringer

   changes

   indkøbene

   procurement

   ikke bare

   not just

   påmindelser

   reminders

   More detail

   Det means “that” here and points back to the preceding idea or proposal. As a standalone pronoun, det is the neuter singular form; it is not the form used for a plural referent. Example: Det er vigtigt. — “That is important.” kræver means “requires.” Its base form is kræve; kræver is the present-tense form. Danish present-tense verbs generally do not change according to the subject’s person or number. Example: Det kræver tid. — “That requires time.” ændringer means “changes.” It is the plural indefinite form of ændring (“change”): en ændring → ændringer. The plural form presents changes in general, without marking them as a specific previously identified set. Example: Vi har brug for ændringer. — “We need changes.” indkøbene means “the procurement/purchasing” or “the purchases,” according to context. It is the definite plural form of indkøb; the ending -ene marks a specific plural set. In this sentence, the intended area is procurement rather than individual purchases. Example: Indkøbene er ændret. — “The purchases have been changed.” ikke bare is the reusable contrast pattern “not just” or “not merely.” It says that the first item is insufficient by itself and that something additional or more substantial is involved. Example: Det kræver ikke bare tid. — “That requires not just time.” påmindelser means “reminders.” It is the plural indefinite form of påmindelse (“reminder”): en påmindelse → påmindelser. Example: Påmindelser hjælper. — “Reminders help.” Together, Det kræver gives “That requires,” ændringer i indkøbene specifies “changes in procurement,” and ikke bare påmindelser contrasts those changes with reminders alone. The complete meaning is: “That requires procurement changes, not just reminders.”`

7. Kunne vi begynde med de ting, der har nemme alternativer?

   Could we start with items that have easy alternatives?

   Kunne vi

   Could we

   begynde

   begin; start

   med

   with

   de

   the

   ting

   items; things

   der

   that; which

   har

   have

   nemme

   easy

   alternativer

   alternatives

   More detail

   Kunne vi combines the modal kunne with vi. Danish has kan as the present form “can,” kunne as the infinitive “be able to,” and kunne also as the past form. In this question, the past-form modal expresses a tentative, polite possibility rather than past time. Vi means “we” and is the subject. A reusable pattern is Kunne vi + infinitive...? — “Could we...?” Begynde is the infinitive “begin; start.” After a modal such as kunne, Danish uses the infinitive without at: Kunne vi begynde...? means “Could we start...?” Med means “with” and introduces what the starting action is focused on. Here it links begynde to de ting. De ting is the definite plural noun phrase “the items/things.” Ting has the same spelling in indefinite singular and indefinite plural: en ting means “a thing,” while ting can mean “things” without an article. In this sentence, de makes the phrase definite and plural, so de ting means “the things/items.” Der introduces the relative clause modifying de ting: “that/which...” In this clause it is the subject of har, referring back to the items as a group without itself showing number or gender. A reusable pattern is ting, der ... — “things/items that ...”. Har is the present form of have. With der as its subject, har means “have” in the relative clause: the items “have” something. The present form is har for both singular and plural subjects. Nemme is the plural or definite form of the adjective nem (“easy”). The main forms are nem (common-gender singular), nemt (neuter singular), and nemme (plural or definite). Here it describes the plural noun alternativer as easy. Alternativer is the plural of alternativ (“alternative”). In this sentence, these alternatives are what the items have; the sentence does not specify what the alternatives are. Together, de ting, der har nemme alternativer means “items that have easy alternatives.” The relative clause identifies the items by the property of having easy alternatives. Adding it after Kunne vi begynde med produces the complete meaning: “Could we start with items that have easy alternatives?”

8. Det ville gøre ændringen mindre forstyrrende.

   That would make the change less disruptive.

   Det ville

   That would

   gøre

   make

   ændringen

   the change

   mindre

   less

   forstyrrende

   disruptive

   More detail

   Det ville means “that would” here. Det is a third-person singular neuter pronoun; the fixed sentence does not identify a more specific antecedent. Ville is the past-tense form of ville (“will/want”), used here to express a hypothetical or conditional result. After this modal, Danish uses the infinitive without at: ville gøre = “would make.” Gøre is the infinitive of gør/gjorde (“make/do”). In this sentence it has the causative pattern gøre + object + adjective: it causes the object to have the stated quality. For example, Det gør arbejdet lettere means “That makes the work easier.” Ændringen means “the change.” It is the definite singular form of ændring; the ending -en marks common-gender definiteness. The indefinite form is en ændring, while the plural definite form is ændringerne (“the changes”). Mindre means “less” here and modifies the following adjective. It expresses a lower degree, not a separate quantity of changes. Compare forstyrrende (“disruptive”) with mindre forstyrrende (“less disruptive”). Forstyrrende means “disruptive” in this sentence. It is the adjective formed from forstyrre (“disturb”), and its -ende form does not show a separate gender or number ending here. The pattern mindre + adjective is a useful way to form a comparative meaning: mindre tydelig = “less clear.” Together, Det ville gøre ændringen mindre forstyrrende follows the pattern That would make the change less disruptive: a hypothetical subject and action (Det ville gøre) are followed by the affected object (ændringen) and the resulting degree or quality (mindre forstyrrende).