"Practise your Danish" Forum

Danish Exercise: Asking for Favours

Danish Exercise: Asking for Favours

by Alison Jenster - OLS Community Manager -
Number of replies: 0

Hello Everyone 

When asking for favors in Danish, it’s important to be polite and use proper phrases to make your request, since we don´t really have a word for please. Here are some common phrases and structures used to ask for favors: 

  1. Kan du... ? (Can you...?) 

  • Example: Kan du hjælpe mig? (Can you help me?) 

  1. Vil du... ? (Will you...?) 

  • Example: Vil du låne mig en bog? (Will you lend me a book?) 

  1. Kunne du tænke dig at... ? (Would you like to...?) 

  • Example: Kunne du tænke dig at passe min kat? (Would you like to take care of my cat?) 

  1. Har du tid til at... ? (Do you have time to...?) 

  • Example: Har du tid til at mødes senere? (Do you have time to meet later?) 

  1. Ville det være muligt at... ? (Would it be possible to...?) 

  • Example: Ville det være muligt at få et lift? (Would it be possible to get a ride?) 

Exercise: 

Fill in the blanks in the following sentences using the appropriate form of the verb in parentheses. Then, practice asking these questions with a partner or writing them in your notebook. 

1. Kan du _______ (låne) mig din cykel? 

2. Vil du _______ (hjælpe) mig med mine lektier? 

3. Har du tid til at _______ (gå) en tur? 

4. Ville det være muligt at _______ (lave) en kop te til mig? 

5. Kunne du tænke dig at _______ (tage) billeder til festen? 

Example Sentences: 

Now, create your own sentences using the structures above. Try to think of favors you might ask in your daily life. Here are a few examples to get you started: 

    1. Kan du hente min pakke fra posthuset? 

  • Can you pick up my package from the post office? 

    2. Vil du passe min hund i weekenden? 

  • Will you take care of my dog over the weekend? 

    3. Kunne du tænke dig at hjælpe mig med at lave mad? 

  • Would you like to help me cook? 

Now for some homework: 

Ask a family member, friend, or fellow student for a favor using one of the structures you learned today. Write down the favor you asked for and the response you received. Be ready to share your experience in the comment section below this discussion or in a private message to me so we can review them. Good luck! 

Alison, OLS Community Manager - Danish