Signification
Requesting additional duration
Contexte culturel
Danes value 'arbejdslivsbalance' (work-life balance). Asking for more time is seen as a sign of respecting your own limits and the quality of the work. In the US, 'time is money'. Asking for more time can sometimes be perceived as a lack of efficiency, unlike in the more consensus-driven Danish culture. In cultures with a more 'polychronic' view of time, deadlines are often seen as flexible suggestions, making the formal request for 'more time' less common than in Denmark. In Japan, asking for more time on a deadline can be seen as a significant failure. People might work overtime rather than use this phrase.
The 'Lige' Trick
Add 'lige' (just) to sound more like a native: 'Jeg har lige brug for mere tid.'
Don't forget 'for'
Leaving out 'for' is the most common mistake. It's the glue of the phrase!
Signification
Requesting additional duration
The 'Lige' Trick
Add 'lige' (just) to sound more like a native: 'Jeg har lige brug for mere tid.'
Don't forget 'for'
Leaving out 'for' is the most common mistake. It's the glue of the phrase!
Be Direct
In Denmark, it's better to be direct about needing time than to be vague.
Use with 'at'
When followed by a verb, always use 'at': 'brug for mere tid til AT læse'.
Teste-toi
Fill in the missing preposition.
Jeg har brug ___ mere tid.
The fixed expression is always 'at have brug for'.
Which sentence is the most natural way to ask for more time in a restaurant?
The waiter asks if you are ready.
This is the standard, polite way to request more time.
Complete the dialogue.
A: Er du færdig med bogen? B: Nej, ___.
Contextually, if you aren't finished with a book, you need more time to read it.
Match the phrase to the situation.
You are at a job interview and need a moment to think about a question.
'Tid til at tænke' (time to think) is the appropriate professional request.
🎉 Score : /4
Aides visuelles
Banque d exercices
4 exercicesJeg har brug ___ mere tid.
The fixed expression is always 'at have brug for'.
The waiter asks if you are ready.
This is the standard, polite way to request more time.
A: Er du færdig med bogen? B: Nej, ___.
Contextually, if you aren't finished with a book, you need more time to read it.
You are at a job interview and need a moment to think about a question.
'Tid til at tænke' (time to think) is the appropriate professional request.
🎉 Score : /4
Questions fréquentes
12 questionsYes, it is correct, but 'Jeg har brug for mere tid' is more common in spoken Danish.
No, as long as you say it politely. Adding 'desværre' (unfortunately) helps.
'Brug' is for everyday needs; 'behov' is for deeper, essential needs.
'Tid' is uncountable, so we use 'mere'. 'Flere' is for countable things like 'timer' (hours).
Change 'har' to 'havde': 'Jeg havde brug for mere tid'.
Yes, 'Jeg har brug for dig' means 'I need you'.
No, 'brug' is a noun. The verb is 'har'.
Add 'lidt': 'Jeg har brug for lidt mere tid'.
No, 'tid' is singular in this context. 'Tider' means 'eras' or 'times' in a general sense.
Yes, Norwegian is very similar: 'Jeg har bruk for mer tid'.
Say 'Jeg har brug for et øjeblik'.
In this idiom, no. It stays as 'brug'.
Expressions liées
at have travlt
similarto be busy
at tage sig god tid
builds onto take one's time
lige om lidt
contrastin just a moment
at mangle tid
synonymto lack time
