Bring my bag! Call the dog! Sometimes, there’s little time to behøflig(polite), and we need to give somebody a directordre(order). In English, we simply use the dictionary form of the verb (go! wait! shut up!) In Danish, it’s almost just as easy to make thebydeform(imperative, literally ”bidding form”).

Do this: Find the right verb in yourordbog(dictionary), remove the final-e, say it!

Now, try it:

• at hjælpe[yelpeh] >Hjælp mig lige med kufferten.(Help me [merely/just] with my suitcase.)
• at nyde(to enjoy) >Nyd ferien!(Enjoy your holiday!)
• at lære(to learn) >Lær dansk, min ven.(Learn Danish, my friend.)

Please note: Double consonants (ll, tt, pp…) are usually shortened when they get that sweet, final spot:

• at scanne(to scan) >Scan to sider.(Scan two pages.)
• at snakke(to chat, to talk) >Snak med mig!(Talk with me!)

Nemt, ikke?(Easy, right?)

But… What if the dictionary form (AKA the infinitive) doesn’t have a fancy-eextension? Well, then it’s just like you know it from English:no change:

• at se(to see) >Se solen!(Look at the sun!)
• at slå græsset(to cut the lawn) >Slå græsset i morgen!(Cut the lawn tomorrow!)

But… What if the word looks weird without the-e?

Yes, that’s one of the fun details of Danish!

Imagine ordering somebody tocykle(ride a bike), thenklatre(climb) somewhere… Wouldn’t it be impossible to pronounce?

Cykl til huset og klatr op i træet!(Ride your bike to the house and climb up into the tree!)

Surprise – it’s actually official Danish. In the spoken language, I guess, people often say it in other ways, for example usingskal(have to, must, shall):

I skal cykle til huset og klatre…

Of course, lovers ofkrydsogtværs(crossword puzzle) know theirsmadr! hamr! ændr!(crush! hammer! change!)