ved

At / by (Ved)

Level 1

Use ved to describe being near a physical object or a specific point of activity (like a table or an entrance).

How It Works

In Danish, ved is a versatile preposition. While it often translates to 'at' or 'by', its usage depends on the context:

  • Physical Proximity: Use it for being 'near' or 'at the edge' of something (e.g., ved vinduet). For landmarks like a station, ved stationen implies you are outside or nearby, whereas på stationen treats it as the facility. This is a usual distinction, not an absolute physical boundary.
  • Fixed Phrases: The phrase ved siden af is the standard way to say 'next to'.
  • Actions in Progress: The construction er ved at + infinitive is used to express that someone is in the middle of doing something (e.g., jeg er ved at spise - I am eating).
  • Approximate Time: When used with time, it means 'around' or 'about' (e.g., ved tretiden - around three o'clock).
  • Means and Method: The construction ved at + infinitive is used to explain how something is done (e.g., 'by speaking').

For the ordinary agent in a passive sentence, use af instead.

Two Other Common Encounters: In Jeg ved det (I know it), ved is the present tense of vide, not a preposition. In Bliv ved! (Keep going!) and Han bliver ved med at spørge (He keeps asking), it belongs to a continuation expression. You will also see ved for affiliation, as in ansat ved universitetet. Although the ordinary passive agent uses af, formal credits can use ved, as in oversættelse ved Anna Jensen.

Examples (5)

  1. Han står ved vinduet.

    He is standing by the window.

    Word by Word: He stands by the-window.

    Here, 'ved' shows physical proximity to the window.

  2. Vi ses ved ottetiden.

    We'll see each other around eight o'clock.

    Word by Word: We see-each-other at eight-time-the.

    'Ved' is used to express approximate time, similar to 'around' in English.

  3. Man lærer dansk ved at tale det.

    One learns Danish by speaking it.

    Word by Word: One learns Danish by to speak it.

    The construction 'ved at' followed by an infinitive expresses the means or method of doing something.

  4. Huset ligger ved siden af skolen.

    The house is located next to the school.

    Word by Word: The-house lies by side-the of school-the.

    'Ved siden af' is a very common fixed phrase meaning 'next to'.

  5. Mød mig ved stationen.

    Meet me by the station.

    Word by Word: Meet me by station-the.

    Using 'ved' here implies meeting outside or in the immediate vicinity of the station, rather than inside the facility.

Common Mistakes

  • Confusing being beside someone with visiting their home.

    Different MeaningJeg er ved min ven.
    Jeg er hos min ven.

    Use hos as the general expression for visiting a person's home. 'Ved min ven' can mean beside my friend; regional Danish also uses 'ved' where other speakers use 'hos'. It is not a ban on ved with people.

  • Using 'ved' for the agent in passive sentences.

    Bogen er skrevet ved ham.
    Bogen er skrevet af ham.

    When you want to say 'by' to indicate who performed an action (the agent) in a passive sentence, you must use af, not 'ved'.

  • Confusing 'ved' and 'på' for landmarks like stations.

    Different MeaningJeg venter ved stationen.
    Jeg venter på stationen.

    Both sentences are grammatical. På treats the station as the facility; 'ved' locates you by or near it. Use the wording that fits your meeting point, without treating the distinction as an absolute inside/outside boundary.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

vedLevel 1At / by (Ved)

Learn This First

To use 'ved' correctly, you need to understand basic noun gender and articles to form the objects of the preposition, and understand how to answer location-based questions.

Words in This Pattern

ved