Tal og klokken

A1 — Ordforråd

Vigesimal numbers (halvtreds, tres, halvfjerds, firs, halvfems) and telling time

Can use Danish numbers including vigesimal 50-90 and tell time

Examples

Jeg er halvtreds år gammel, og min mor er firs. — I am fifty years old, and my mother is eighty.
Toget afgår halv ni, ikke klokken ni. — The train departs at 8:30, not at 9:00.
Der er treoghalvfjerds elever på skolen. — There are seventy-three students at the school.

OrdforrådA1

Numbers and time

Vigesimal numbers and telling time

Learning Goal

Can use vigesimal numbers and tell time in Danish

Exam Skills:LæseforståelseLytteforståelseMundtlig produktion

Look at these examples. Can you spot the grammar pattern?

Jeg er halvtreds år gammel, og min mor er firs.

I am fifty years old, and my mother is eighty.

Toget afgår halv ni, ikke klokken ni.

The train departs at 8:30, not at 9:00.

Der er treoghalvfjerds elever på skolen.

There are seventy-three students at the school.

Pay attention to the highlighted parts. What do they have in common?

Vigesimal numbers: halvtreds(50), tres(60), halvfjerds(70), firs(80), halvfems(90). Time: halv ni = 8:30.

Apply this grammar in A1 course exercises

Practice Exercises

The vigesimal number system (50-90) and 'halv' time are the hardest Danish features for foreigners.

🇬🇧 English: 50-90 are completely different. 'Half nine' in British English = 9:30, but Danish 'halv

Common Error Patterns

Confusing vigesimal numbers (halvtreds, tres, halvfjerds, firs, halvfems)

Memorize: halvtreds=50, tres=60, halvfjerds=70, firs=80, halvfems=90. Pattern: halv+X = (X-0.5)×20.

Interpreting 'halv ni' as 9:30 instead of 8:30

'Halv ni' = 8:30 (half TO nine). Like German 'halb neun'. NOT 9:30!

Jeg er halvtreds år gammel, og min mor er firs.

I am fifty years old, and my mother is eighty.

'Halvtreds' = 50 (2.5 × 20). 'Firs' = 80 (4 × 20). The vigesimal system is unique to Danish!

Toget afgår halv ni, ikke klokken ni.

The train departs at 8:30, not at 9:00.

'Halv ni' = 8:30 (half TO nine). This is the #1 time trap for learners!

Der er treoghalvfjerds elever på skolen.

There are seventy-three students at the school.

'Treoghalvfjerds' = 73 (tre-og-halvfjerds = 3 + 70). Units come BEFORE tens, like German!

Practice in course

Apply this grammar in A1 course exercises

A1 Course

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Put it into practice

Try a free exercise from the course

Frequently asked questions

When is Tal og klokken used?: Danske tal har et unikt tyvetalssystem (vigesimalt) for tallene 50-90:
How is Tal og klokken formed?: Vigtig! Halv ni = 8:30 (half TO nine), IKKE 9:30! Dette forvirrer mange.
What are common mistakes with Tal og klokken?: The vigesimal number system (50-90) and 'halv' time are the hardest Danish features for foreigners. 🇬🇧 English: 50-90 are completely different. 'Half nine' in British English = 9:30, but Danish 'halv ni' = 8:30! 🇷🇺 Russian: Russian numbers are decimal. The vigesimal system needs memorization. 'Половина девятого' = halv ni (same concept!). 🇨🇿 Czech: Czech numbers are normal. Vigesimal system is unique to Danish. 'Půl deváté' = halv ni (same!). 🇩🇪 German: German also says 'halb neun' = 8:30 — same as Danish! But numbers 50-90 are normal in German.

Frequently asked questions

When is Tal og klokken used?

Danske tal har et unikt tyvetalssystem (vigesimalt) for tallene 50-90:

How is Tal og klokken formed?

Vigtig! Halv ni = 8:30 (half TO nine), IKKE 9:30! Dette forvirrer mange.

What are common mistakes with Tal og klokken?

The vigesimal number system (50-90) and 'halv' time are the hardest Danish features for foreigners. 🇬🇧 English: 50-90 are completely different. 'Half nine' in British English = 9:30, but Danish 'halv ni' = 8:30! 🇷🇺 Russian: Russian numbers are decimal. The vigesimal system needs memorization. 'Половина девятого' = halv ni (same concept!). 🇨🇿 Czech: Czech numbers are normal. Vigesimal system is unique to Danish. 'Půl deváté' = halv ni (same!). 🇩🇪 German: German also says 'halb neun' = 8:30 — same as Danish! But numbers 50-90 are normal in German.