Signification
Arriving exactly when planned.
Contexte culturel
Punctuality is a sign of respect. Being 5 minutes late is considered rude. If you are late, always send a text message as soon as you know. Similar to Denmark, Germans value 'Pünktlichkeit'. However, Germans might be even more formal about it in business settings. In countries like Italy or Greece, 'til tiden' can be more flexible. A meeting at 10:00 might actually start at 10:15. Japan has the world's strictest standards for 'at komme til tiden', especially for trains, which apologize for being 30 seconds late.
The 5-Minute Rule
In Denmark, if you are more than 5 minutes late, you are officially 'forsinket' (delayed) and should notify the person you are meeting.
Aim for 5 minutes early
To ensure you 'kommer til tiden', aim to arrive 5 minutes early. This gives you a buffer for finding the right door or parking.
Signification
Arriving exactly when planned.
The 5-Minute Rule
In Denmark, if you are more than 5 minutes late, you are officially 'forsinket' (delayed) and should notify the person you are meeting.
Aim for 5 minutes early
To ensure you 'kommer til tiden', aim to arrive 5 minutes early. This gives you a buffer for finding the right door or parking.
Don't say 'på tiden'
This is the most common mistake for English speakers. Always use 'til'.
Use it for things, too
Remember you can use this for the mail, your pizza delivery, or a flight—not just people!
Teste-toi
Fill in the missing preposition.
Jeg lover at komme ___ tiden til vores aftale.
The fixed phrase is 'til tiden'.
Which sentence is correct for a job interview?
Hvilken sætning er rigtig?
'Til tiden' is the correct way to say you were punctual for a specific appointment.
Complete the dialogue.
A: 'Hvorfor er du her allerede?' B: 'Fordi jeg altid gerne vil ____.'
The context implies a positive habit of punctuality.
Match the phrase to the situation.
Match 'At komme til tiden' with the best scenario:
Punctuality is about following a schedule.
🎉 Score : /4
Aides visuelles
Til Tiden vs. I Tide
Where Punctuality Matters Most
High
- • Job interview
- • Doctor
- • Train
Medium
- • Dinner party
- • Coffee date
Banque d exercices
4 exercicesJeg lover at komme ___ tiden til vores aftale.
The fixed phrase is 'til tiden'.
Hvilken sætning er rigtig?
'Til tiden' is the correct way to say you were punctual for a specific appointment.
A: 'Hvorfor er du her allerede?' B: 'Fordi jeg altid gerne vil ____.'
The context implies a positive habit of punctuality.
Match 'At komme til tiden' with the best scenario:
Punctuality is about following a schedule.
🎉 Score : /4
Questions fréquentes
12 questionsIt is better to say 'Jeg kommer til tiden' or 'Jeg er her til tiden'. 'Jeg er til tiden' sounds a bit like a direct translation from English.
Generally, no, but it is noticed. If it's a formal meeting, try to be there exactly on the minute.
'Til tiden' is a phrase (on time), while 'præcis' is an adjective (precise). You can say 'Han er præcis' or 'Han kommer til tiden'.
Use 'Jeg kom i sidste øjeblik' or 'Jeg kom lige i tide'.
Yes, in this specific phrase, it is always 'tiden'.
Yes, it is essential in business Danish to describe deadlines and punctuality.
Usually, we use 'overholde tidsplanen' for deadlines, but you can say a report 'kom til tiden'.
You can say 'Jeg er her i god tid'.
Younger people might say 'Jeg lander lige på klokkeslættet'.
Say: 'Undskyld jeg ikke kom til tiden'.
Yes, Norwegian 'til tiden' and Swedish 'i tid' are very similar, though Swedish uses 'i'.
Yes: 'Bussen kommer altid til tiden'.
Expressions liées
I tide
similarIn time / before it's too late
For sent
contrastToo late
Præcis
synonymPrecise / exactly
At overholde en bagkant
specialized formTo meet a deadline
Lige på slaget
builds onExactly on the dot
