Meaning
Using something as a reference.
Cultural Background
In Danish schools, 'elevcentreret undervisning' (student-centered learning) means teachers often 'tager udgangspunkt i' the student's own interests to motivate them. Danish meetings are often less about top-down orders and more about 'taking a starting point' in shared data to reach a consensus. Functionalism in Danish design 'tager udgangspunkt i' the human body and its needs, rather than just aesthetics. In modern Greenlandic political discourse (often in Danish), leaders 'tager udgangspunkt i' traditional values when discussing modernization.
Use it in Writing
Start your essays with 'Denne opgave tager udgangspunkt i...' to instantly sound more academic.
Preposition Trap
Never say 'udgangspunkt på'. It's the most common mistake for English speakers.
Meaning
Using something as a reference.
Use it in Writing
Start your essays with 'Denne opgave tager udgangspunkt i...' to instantly sound more academic.
Preposition Trap
Never say 'udgangspunkt på'. It's the most common mistake for English speakers.
Consensus Tool
Use this phrase to sound polite when disagreeing. 'Hvis vi tager udgangspunkt i det, du siger, så...' makes the other person feel heard.
Test Yourself
Fill in the missing preposition.
Vi tager altid udgangspunkt ___ kundens behov.
The fixed expression is 'at tage udgangspunkt i'.
Which sentence is grammatically correct?
Select the correct past tense usage.
'Tog' is the past tense of 'tage'.
Complete the dialogue with the most natural response.
A: Hvordan skal vi starte mødet? B: ____
Using the agenda (dagsordenen) as a starting point is a standard professional use.
Match the sentence to the context.
'Filmen tager udgangspunkt i en sand historie.'
This is a common way to describe movies based on true events.
🎉 Score: /4
Visual Learning Aids
Practice Bank
4 exercisesVi tager altid udgangspunkt ___ kundens behov.
The fixed expression is 'at tage udgangspunkt i'.
Select the correct past tense usage.
'Tog' is the past tense of 'tage'.
A: Hvordan skal vi starte mødet? B: ____
Using the agenda (dagsordenen) as a starting point is a standard professional use.
'Filmen tager udgangspunkt i en sand historie.'
This is a common way to describe movies based on true events.
🎉 Score: /4
Frequently Asked Questions
10 questionsYes, but it's less common than the figurative use. You might say it when hiking: 'Vores udgangspunkt er parkeringspladsen.'
It is 'et udgangspunkt' (neuter), but you rarely use the article in the phrase 'at tage udgangspunkt i'.
Yes! 'Mit udgangspunkt er, at vi skal spare penge' means 'My starting position/premise is that we need to save money.'
It's a bit long for a quick text, but perfectly fine for a longer message explaining a plan.
'At basere på' is more direct and often used for data. 'At tage udgangspunkt i' is broader and suggests a point of departure.
It's a soft 'g', almost like a very light 'y' or 'w' sound depending on the dialect, or it can be silent.
Rarely. You usually have one 'udgangspunkt' for a specific argument.
Yes, Swedish 'utgångspunkt' and Norwegian 'utgangspunkt' are used almost identically.
No, that is considered incorrect in standard Danish, though some dialects might use it.
'At gå ud fra' (to go out from/assume) is a great casual alternative.
Related Phrases
at tage afsæt i
similarTo use as a springboard.
at basere på
synonymTo base on.
at gå ud fra
similarTo assume / take for granted.
at begynde med
builds onTo begin with.
