A2 Danish GrammarPast Tense (Simple Past)
Learn to describe completed actions in Danish using the simple past tense (præteritum). Understand weak and strong verb patterns and master common irregular verbs.
1Past Tense Overview
Danish past tense (præteritum) is used for completed actions. Like present tense, the form is the same for all persons. Danish verbs are divided into weak (regular) and strong (irregular) verbs.
Same Form for All Subjects
| Subject | Past Verb | English |
|---|---|---|
| jeg | talte | I spoke |
| du | talte | you spoke |
| han/hun | talte | he/she spoke |
| vi | talte | we spoke |
| de | talte | they spoke |
Examples
Jeg arbejdede i går.
I worked yesterday.
arbejde → arbejdede
Hun læste en bog.
She read a book.
læse → læste
Vi boede i København.
We lived in Copenhagen.
bo → boede
De kom sent.
They came late.
komme → kom (irregular)
2Weak Verbs (Regular)
Weak verbs add -ede or -te to form the past. Group 1 verbs add -ede, Group 2 add -te.
Weak Verb Patterns
| Infinitive | Present | Past | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| tale | taler | talte | to speak |
| arbejde | arbejder | arbejdede | to work |
| læse | læser | læste | to read |
| købe | køber | købte | to buy |
Examples
Jeg talte med ham i går.
I spoke with him yesterday.
tale → talte
Hun arbejdede hele dagen.
She worked all day.
arbejde → arbejdede
Vi købte en ny bil.
We bought a new car.
købe → købte
De lukkede døren.
They closed the door.
lukke → lukkede
3Strong Verbs (Irregular)
Strong verbs change their vowel in past tense. These must be memorized.
Common Strong Verbs
| Infinitive | Present | Past | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| være | er | var | to be |
| have | har | havde | to have |
| gøre | gør | gjorde | to do |
| gå | går | gik | to go |
| komme | kommer | kom | to come |
| se | ser | så | to see |
| tage | tager | tog | to take |
| give | giver | gav | to give |
Examples
Jeg var syg i sidste uge.
I was sick last week.
være → var
Hun havde en hund.
She had a dog.
have → havde
Vi gik til parken.
We went to the park.
gå → gik
Han så filmen i går.
He saw the movie yesterday.
se → så
4Time Expressions with Past
Common time expressions used with past tense in Danish.
Examples
I går spiste vi ude.
Yesterday we ate out.
i går = yesterday
I sidste uge rejste vi.
Last week we traveled.
i sidste uge = last week
For to dage siden ringede han.
Two days ago he called.
for...siden = ago
I morges drak jeg kaffe.
This morning I drank coffee.
i morges = this morning