The Focus of This Lesson is Discussing Reasons
Jeg vil gerne arbejde her på grund af de fleksible arbejdstider.
"I would like to work here because of the flexible working hours."

In this lesson, you will learn how to:

1. Express reasons with the conjunctions fordi and så

2. Express reasons with the adverb derfor

3. Express reasons with the phrase på grund af

1. How to express reason with the conjunctions fordi and så

The conjunction fordi means "because" and it is used just like its English equivalent; to give reason. It is always an introduction to a subordinate clause, preceding or following a main clause. Normally, subordinate clauses cannot stand alone, but if someone asks you the reason for something, you can answer with a subordinate clause only. For example, when like in the dialogue, when Theresa asks Jon why he wants to work at this exact café, Jon could have answered Fordi I tilbyder fleksible arbejdstider. This literally means "Because you offer flexible working hours." The conjunction så means "so" and it is also used like its English equivalent. Så differs from fordi because it can introduce both main and subordinate clauses, as it can be a co-ordinating conjunction. Also, så is used to express reason through the effect or result of an action. Like in the dialogue, when Jon tells Theresa about his waiting experience, he first explains that the waiter at his old job suddenly left, which was the action that caused him to sign up for the job.

Sentence structures:

Even though fordi introduces a subordinate clause, it does not mean that the order of the two clauses can be switched. If a main clause precedes a subordinate clause, the subject comes before the verb in both clauses. If the subordinate clause precedes the main clause, the word order changes in the latter so that the verb comes before the subject. It is most common to start with the main clause before the subordinate clause, but if you really want to emphasize the reason for something, you can start with fordi and the rest of the subordinate clause and then the main clause. In questions, the main clause always precedes the subordinate clause, and once again, the word order changes in the main clause.

For example:

1. Han ansøger, fordi han mangler penge.
   "He is applying because he needs money."
2. Fordi hun ikke spurgte, udelod han det.
   "Because she didn't ask, he left it out."
3. Lønnen var også for lav. -Så du gik?
   "The salary was also too low." -"So you left?"

2. How to express reason with the adverb derfor

As a causal adverb, derfor means "therefore," and it is used like its English equivalents, including "thus"; to express reason. Derfor can only introduce main clauses in which the word order must be inverted. In the dialogue, Jon talks about his strengths and weaknesses, and follows that sentence with another sentence starting with derfor. Here, the adverb clearly refers to the first sentence, which is the reason why he will do anything to keep others happy, as he explains in the latter sentence. Even when a main clause is followed by another main clause, connected by a conjunction, such as the familiar så, the word order must be inverted in the latter clause because of derfor. Så preceding derfor works the same as in English, "so therefore." When using derfor in questions, it is often translated as "why" to make sense in English.

Sentence structures:

For example:

1. Derfor er det vigtigt at være velforberedt.
   "Thus, it is important to be well-prepared."
2. Han var ærlig, og derfor fik han jobbet.
   "He was honest, and therefore he got the job."
3. Er det derfor, du har gode anbefalinger?
   "Is that why you have good recommendations?"

3. How to express reason with the phrase på grund af

The phrase på grund af consists of the preposition på, which has several meanings, such as "on" and "in." Next, the common gender noun grund which means "reason." And finally, the preposition af which also has several meaning, such as "of." The phrase is used to give reason like its English equivalent "because of." Like in the dialogue, Jon uses the phrase in a sentence explaining why he want to work at that café in particular. På grund af can appear anywhere in a sentence except at the very end, because it will always be followed by a reason.

Sentence structures:

For example:

1. Du er ansat på grund af din gode attitude.
   "You are hired because of your great attitude."
2. På grund af manglende erfaring giver vi dig afslag.
   "Because of lack of experience, we are turning you down."
3. Er det på grund af min civilstand?
   "Is it because of my civil status?"

Examples from the dialogue:

1. Tak fordi du ville komme. Vil du fortælle om din tjenererfaring?     
   "Thank you for coming. Do you want to tell about your waiting experience?"
2. Jeg er service-minded, men konfliktsky. Derfor gør jeg alt for, at andre er glade.
   "I am service-minded, but afraid of conflict. Therefore, I do anything to make others happy."
3. Jeg vil gerne arbejde her på grund af de fleksible arbejdstider.
   "I would like to work here because of the flexible working hours."

Sample Sentences

1. Jeg er glad, fordi jeg er blevet fastansat.
   "I am happy because I have been tenured."
2. Du havde mest erfaring, og derfor ansætter vi dig.
   "You have the most experience, and therefore we are hiring you. "
3. Arbejdspladsen er god på grund af det gode kollegaskab.
   "The workplace is good due to the great colleagueship."

være studerende ("to be a student")

The phrase være studerende means "to be a student." The first word være is the irregular verb "to be" and studerende is the common gender noun meaning "student." Unlike English, there is no need for the indefinite article in Danish.

The phrase is mainly used by students, who are above senior high school level, when introducing themselves. Of course, you can also use the phrase when talking about someone else who is a student above senior high school level. If you are a student below senior high school level or attending a secondary educational institution, you replace studerende with elev, which is a common gender noun. However, in order to specify what kind of student you are, elev is often combined with an institution. For example, folkeskoleelev is a common gender noun made up of two separate nouns. Folkeskole is a common gender noun meaning "primary and lower secondary school" or "state school" and elev is of course "student." Another example is gymnasieelev, which is a common gender noun meaning "senior high school student."

For example:

1. Alle mine venner er også studerende.
   "All my friends are students too."

søge ("to look for," "to search for," "to seek," "to apply for," "to try")

This is a verb with several meanings, such as "to look for" and "to search for." Søge is a regular verb, but it conjugates according to the second regular conjugation in past tense, which means that you add -te to the base form søg. So søge in past tense is søgte.

Like in English, søge is mainly used when you want to express that you are looking or searching for something or someone. For example, Vi søger en butiksassistent means "We are looking for a shop assistant." Vi is the pronoun "we," søger is the verb søge in present tense, and en butiksassistent is the indefinite article en followed by the common gender noun butiksassistent meaning "shop assistant." When they are seeking someone in particular, but they have not met the person before, some people add the indefinite article en before the name of that person. For example, Jeg søger en Jon Andersen. This means "I'm looking for a Jon Andersen." Jeg is the pronoun "I," søger is søge in present tense, and en Jon Andersen is "a Jon Andersen." By adding the indefinite article, you show distance to the person you are talking about, indicating that you do not know him or her.

Søge is often followed by the preposition efter, which literally means "after," but in this case it is equivalent of "for" in English. The phrase søge efter works just like in English. For example, Han søgte efter sin pung. This means "He searched for his wallet." Han is the pronoun "he," søgte is søge in past tense, efter is the preposition "for," sin is the reflexive pronoun "his," and pung is the common gender noun meaning "wallet."

For example:

1. Vi har søgt efter chefen overalt.
   "We have looked for the boss everywhere."

give weekendtillæg ("to give weekend supplement")

The phrase give weekendtillæg means "to give weekend supplement." The irregular verb give means "to give," and the neuter gender noun weekendtillæg means "weekend supplement." The noun is made of the two nouns weekend and tillæg. The common gender noun weekend means "weekend" and the neuter gender noun tillæg means "supplement," "addition," or "bonus."

You usually use the phrase in a work or employment-related context. For example, if you want to know if an employer offers weekend supplement, you can ask Gives der weekendtillæg? This literally means "Is there given weekend supplement?" The first word gives is the verb "give" in passive form, toning down the subject, or rather the giver, the second word der is the formal subject "there," and finally weekendtillæg is "weekendsupplement." When switching focus from the giver to the receiver, you simply replace the verb give with a verb meaning the exact opposite. For example, Modtager du weekendtillæg? means "Do you receive weekend supplement?" The first word modtager is the irregular verb modtage in present tense meaning "receive," the second word du is the pronoun "you," and finally weekendtillæg is of course "weekend supplement."

A shorter version also focusing on the receiver is, De får weekendtillæg. This literally means "They get weekend supplement." The first word de is the pronoun "they," the second word får is the irregular verb få in present tense meaning "get," and finally weekendtillæg is "weekend supplement."

For example:

1. Arbejdsgivere kan give forskellige weekendtillæg.
   "Employers can give different weekend supplements."

Applying for Jobs in Denmark

The most standard job application procedure in Denmark is simple. You send your resume and a cover letter through email or upload it through a given employer's application site. Besides newspapers, bulletin boards, and the like, Danes often use online job portals to find available jobs matching their profile or field. If there are no relevant jobs, you can always try sending an unsolicited application, but do not be surprised if you never get an answer. When you are unemployed, you can receive a monthly deposit, for a limited time of course, if you are a member of an a-kasse and declared unemployed at the authorities' job center online.

Useful expression:

1. a-kasse
   "unemployment fund"