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A2 verb 3 min de lectura

lede

When you want to express that you are actively searching for something in Danish, you use the verb "lede efter". This is a very common phrase that you will hear and use often.

You can use it to talk about searching for an object, a person, or even information. Remember that "efter" comes after "lede" when you are specifying what you are looking for.

For example, if you lost your keys, you would say "Jeg leder efter mine nøgler."

Practícalo Ejemplos

Alright, let's get straight to it. Today, we're talking about the Danish verb lede. This is a useful verb that you'll hear and use often in Danish conversations. It's classified as an A2 word, meaning it's something you should aim to understand and use at an early stage in your Danish learning journey.

§ What does 'lede' mean?

Definition: To search for something; to look for something. It implies actively trying to find something that is lost, hidden, or not immediately visible.

Think of lede as the equivalent of 'to search' or 'to look for' in English. It's what you do when you can't find your keys, when you're trying to locate a specific book in a library, or even when you're seeking a solution to a problem. It’s an active process of seeking something out.

In Danish, lede almost always comes with the preposition 'efter' when you're specifying *what* you're searching for. So, you don't just 'lede' a thing; you 'lede efter' a thing. This is a crucial point to remember to sound natural.

§ When do people use 'lede'?

People use lede in a variety of everyday situations. It’s not a formal word; it’s part of casual and practical conversation. Here are some common scenarios:

Lost items: This is probably the most frequent use. If you've misplaced something, you're 'leder efter' it.
Information: When you're trying to find specific information, like a phone number or an address, you're 'leder efter' that information.
People: If you're trying to locate someone, you 'leder efter' them.
Opportunities/Solutions: In a more abstract sense, you can 'lede efter' a job, a solution to a problem, or new opportunities.

§ Examples of 'lede' in action

Let's look at some examples to make this concrete. Pay attention to how 'lede' is used with 'efter'.

Jeg leder efter mine nøgler. (I am looking for my keys.)

Here, 'leder' is the present tense of 'lede'. The person is actively searching for their lost keys.

Har du ledt efter informationen online? (Have you searched for the information online?)

This uses the past participle 'ledt'. The question is about a past action of searching.

Vi skal lede efter en ny lejlighed. (We need to look for a new apartment.)

This example shows 'lede' used with a modal verb ('skal' - need to/shall), indicating a future intention to search.

Han ledte i alle skufferne, men fandt intet. (He searched in all the drawers, but found nothing.)

Here, 'ledte' is the past simple tense. It describes a completed action of searching in the past.

§ Common phrases with 'lede'

You'll often hear lede in certain common phrases. Knowing these will help you sound more natural:

At lede efter arbejde: To look for work/a job.
At lede efter en løsning: To look for a solution.
At lede efter vej: To look for the way/directions.
At lede efter ord: To search for words (e.g., when you can't express yourself properly).

Jeg leder efter en løsning på problemet. (I am looking for a solution to the problem.)

This demonstrates how 'lede' can be used for abstract concepts like 'solutions'.

So, there you have it. Lede is a straightforward verb for 'to search' or 'to look for'. Just remember to pair it with 'efter' when you specify what you're searching for, and you'll be using it correctly in no time. Keep practicing, and you'll find it becoming second nature.

Gramática que debes saber

When 'lede' means 'to search for something', it is almost always followed by the preposition 'efter' (for).

Jeg leder efter min pung. (I am looking for my wallet.)

'Lede' can also mean 'to lead' or 'to guide', in which case it is often followed by a direct object and sometimes a preposition like 'hen til' (to/towards).

Han leder mig hen til udgangen. (He is leading me to the exit.)

When 'lede' means 'to bore' or 'to tire', it is usually used in the passive voice or with a reflexive pronoun 'sig'.

Jeg keder mig. (I am bored. - 'At kede sig' is a common idiom meaning to be bored, where 'lede' contributes to the meaning of being tired of something.)

The past tense of 'lede' (to search for/to lead) is 'ledte'.

Jeg ledte efter mine nøgler. (I looked for my keys.)

The past participle of 'lede' (to search for/to lead) is 'ledt'.

Har du ledt efter den? (Have you looked for it?)

Ejemplos por nivel

Efter ugers intensiv lede fandt arkæologerne endelig resterne af den gamle vikingeboplads.

After weeks of intensive search, the archaeologists finally found the remains of the ancient Viking settlement.

Here 'lede' is used as a noun, meaning 'search' or 'seeking'.

Politiet fortsatte deres lede efter den forsvundne person, selv efter mørkets frembrud.

The police continued their search for the missing person, even after nightfall.

Again, 'lede' functions as a noun here, referring to the act of searching.

Hun måtte lede dybt i erindringerne for at finde svaret på det vanskelige spørgsmål.

She had to search deep in her memories to find the answer to the difficult question.

Here, 'lede' is a verb, 'to search'.

Det var en lang og udmattende lede efter sandheden, men til sidst kom den frem i lyset.

It was a long and exhausting search for the truth, but eventually it came to light.

Similar to the first two examples, 'lede' is a noun here, meaning 'search'.

Med stor omhu måtte han lede gennem de gamle papirer for at finde det manglende dokument.

With great care, he had to search through the old papers to find the missing document.

'Lede' is used as a verb, 'to search'.

Forskere er konstant på lede efter nye metoder til at bekæmpe sygdomme.

Researchers are constantly on the lookout for new methods to combat diseases.

In this phrase, 'på lede efter' means 'on the lookout for' or 'searching for'.

Selvom hun ledte i hver en krog, kunne hun ikke finde sine tabte nøgler.

Although she searched every nook and cranny, she couldn't find her lost keys.

'Ledte' is the past tense of 'lede', meaning 'searched'.

Hans lede efter en dybere mening med livet førte ham ud på en lang rejse.

His search for a deeper meaning in life led him on a long journey.

Here, 'lede' is used as a noun, meaning 'search' or 'quest'.

Patrones gramaticales

Separable verbs (lede efter) Past tense conjugation (ledte) Perfect tense conjugation (har ledt) Modal verbs with infinitive (er nødt til at lede) Prepositions of place (overalt) Subordinate clauses (selvom det var svært)

Patrones de oraciones

Jeg lede efter X.

Jeg lede efter nøglen. (I am searching for the key.)

Kan du lede efter X?

Kan du lede efter min telefon? (Can you search for my phone?)

Vi er nødt til at lede efter X.

Vi er nødt til at lede efter en ny lejlighed. (We need to search for a new apartment.)

Han ledte efter X i lang tid.

Han ledte efter sin pung i lang tid. (He searched for his wallet for a long time.)

De ledte efter en løsning på problemet.

De ledte efter en løsning på problemet. (They searched for a solution to the problem.)

Jeg har ledt efter dig overalt.

Jeg har ledt efter dig overalt. (I have searched for you everywhere.)

Det er vigtigt at lede efter de rigtige informationer.

Det er vigtigt at lede efter de rigtige informationer. (It is important to search for the right information.)

Selvom det var svært, fortsatte de med at lede.

Selvom det var svært, fortsatte de med at lede. (Even though it was difficult, they continued to search.)