A1 Danish GrammarCommon Verbs (være, have)
Master the most essential Danish verbs: 'at være' (to be) and 'at have' (to have). These irregular verbs are used in almost every sentence and are essential for basic communication, including describing states and possessions.
1At være (To Be) - Present Tense
The verb 'at være' (to be) is the most common Danish verb. In present tense, it's 'er' for all persons. Unlike English, there's no difference between 'am', 'is', and 'are'. It's used for identity, states, descriptions, and locations.
Være - Present Tense
| Person | Danish | English |
|---|---|---|
| jeg | jeg er | I am |
| du | du er | you are |
| han/hun/den/det | han/hun er | he/she/it is |
| vi/I/de | vi/I/de er | we/you/they are |
Examples
Jeg er dansk.
I am Danish.
'er' for identity/nationality
Hun er lærer.
She is a teacher.
'er' for profession (no article)
Vi er glade.
We are happy.
'er' for states/feelings
Katten er på bordet.
The cat is on the table.
'er' for location
2At have (To Have) - Present Tense
The verb 'at have' (to have) is used for possession, experiences, and as an auxiliary verb. In present tense, it's 'har' for all persons. It's simpler than English - no distinction between 'have' and 'has'.
Have - Present Tense
| Person | Danish | English |
|---|---|---|
| jeg | jeg har | I have |
| du | du har | you have |
| han/hun/den/det | han/hun har | he/she/it has |
| vi/I/de | vi/I/de har | we/you/they have |
Examples
Jeg har en bil.
I have a car.
'har' for possession
Han har to børn.
He has two children.
'har' same for all persons
Har du tid?
Do you have time?
'har' in questions
Vi har det godt.
We are doing well.
Fixed expression: 'have det godt'
3Være and Have - Past Tense
In past tense, 'være' becomes 'var' (was/were) and 'have' becomes 'havde' (had). Again, one form for all persons. These past forms are essential for telling stories and talking about the past.
Past Tense Forms
| Verb | Present | Past | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| være | er | var | was/were |
| have | har | havde | had |
| (example) | Jeg er glad. | Jeg var glad. | I was happy. |
| (example) | Du har tid. | Du havde tid. | You had time. |
Examples
Jeg var træt i går.
I was tired yesterday.
'var' = was/were (past of være)
De var ikke hjemme.
They were not home.
'var' same for all persons
Hun havde en god dag.
She had a good day.
'havde' = had (past of have)
Vi havde ikke nok tid.
We didn't have enough time.
'havde' in negative sentences
4Common Expressions with Være and Have
Danish uses 'være' and 'have' in many fixed expressions that differ from English. Learn these as set phrases. Many expressions about age, feelings, and states use these verbs differently than in English.
Fixed Expressions
| Danish | Literal | English Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Hvor gammel er du? | How old are you? | How old are you? |
| Jeg har det godt. | I have it good. | I'm doing well. |
| Der er... | There is... | There is/are... |
| Jeg har lyst til... | I have desire to... | I feel like... |
Examples
Jeg er tyve år gammel.
I am twenty years old.
'være' + age (like English)
Har du lyst til kaffe?
Do you feel like coffee?
'have lyst til' = feel like
Der er mange mennesker her.
There are many people here.
'der er' = there is/are
Jeg har travlt.
I am busy.
'have travlt' = be busy (Danish uses 'have')