Bedeutung
Not arriving on time.
Kultureller Hintergrund
Punctuality is a sign of reliability. If you are 5 minutes late, you are expected to call or text. Being late without notice is considered quite rude. Similar to Denmark, Germans value 'Pünktlichkeit'. Arriving 'zu spät' is often seen as a failure of planning. In countries like Italy or Greece, 'at komme for sent' to a social event is often expected and not considered rude. The standard for not being late is arriving 10 minutes early. Arriving exactly on time can sometimes be seen as being 'late' to prepare.
The 'Er' Rule
Always remember to use 'er' in the past perfect: 'Jeg er kommet for sent'. Using 'har' is a dead giveaway that you are translating from English.
Don't just say 'Sent'
Saying just 'Jeg er sent' sounds like you are saying 'I am the time of 11 PM'. Always include 'kommer for'.
Bedeutung
Not arriving on time.
The 'Er' Rule
Always remember to use 'er' in the past perfect: 'Jeg er kommet for sent'. Using 'har' is a dead giveaway that you are translating from English.
Don't just say 'Sent'
Saying just 'Jeg er sent' sounds like you are saying 'I am the time of 11 PM'. Always include 'kommer for'.
The 5-minute buffer
In Denmark, if you are 'kommet for sent' by more than 2 minutes, send a text immediately. It saves your reputation!
The Academic Quarter
In some universities, 'at komme for sent' only counts after 15 minutes. This is called 'det akademiske kvarter'.
Teste dich selbst
Fill in the missing verb in the correct tense.
Jeg ______ for sent til mødet i går.
'I går' (yesterday) requires the past tense 'kom'.
Which sentence is grammatically correct?
Select the right way to say 'I am late'.
Danish uses 'komme for sent' as a fixed collocation for being late.
Complete the dialogue.
A: Hvorfor var du der ikke klokken otte? B: Undskyld, jeg ______ ______ ______ til bussen.
The question is in the past tense ('var'), so the answer should be too.
Match the phrase to the situation.
You are running to catch a train that is about to leave.
The present tense indicates it is happening right now or in the immediate future.
🎉 Ergebnis: /4
Visuelle Lernhilfen
Sent vs. Forsinket
Aufgabensammlung
4 AufgabenJeg ______ for sent til mødet i går.
'I går' (yesterday) requires the past tense 'kom'.
Select the right way to say 'I am late'.
Danish uses 'komme for sent' as a fixed collocation for being late.
A: Hvorfor var du der ikke klokken otte? B: Undskyld, jeg ______ ______ ______ til bussen.
The question is in the past tense ('var'), so the answer should be too.
You are running to catch a train that is about to leave.
The present tense indicates it is happening right now or in the immediate future.
🎉 Ergebnis: /4
Häufig gestellte Fragen
10 FragenNo, that is grammatically incorrect in Danish. You must say 'Jeg kommer for sent' or 'Jeg er forsinket'.
'Sent' is usually about your own arrival time, while 'forsinket' often implies that something else (like a train or a plane) caused the delay.
Say 'Undskyld, jeg kommer for sent' or 'Jeg beklager, at jeg er kommet for sent'.
Yes, usually 10-15 minutes is fine for a house party, but for a dinner, you should be on time.
You say 'Jeg kommer ti minutter for sent'.
It's better to use 'at overskride en deadline', but you can say 'Jeg kom for sent med min opgave'.
It means 'running late'. You use it when you are still on your way to the destination.
It is always two words: 'for sent'.
No, 'sent' is an adverb here and remains the same regardless of the noun.
Danish culture values equality and respect; being late is seen as taking someone else's time without permission.
Verwandte Redewendungen
at være forsinket
similarto be delayed
at være sent på den
similarto be running late
at komme til tiden
contrastto arrive on time
at nå det
builds onto make it / to be in time
i sidste øjeblik
similarat the last minute
