få

Get (Få)

Level 2

få is one of the most versatile verbs in Danish. While it primarily means 'to get', it is also used to describe a change of state, managing to complete a task, having services done, or getting someone else to do something.

How It Works

The verb få is irregular and follows this pattern:

  • Infinitive: at få (to get)
  • Present: får (get/gets)
  • Past: fik (got)
  • Past Participle: fået (gotten)

1. Receiving and Obtaining
This is the most basic use, equivalent to 'to get' or 'to receive' in English.
Jeg får en gave (I am getting a gift).

2. Change of State
Danish uses få to show the moment a feeling or condition starts.
Compare: Jeg har ondt (I have pain) vs. Jeg får ondt (I am starting to feel pain).

3. Completion and Services
When you use få + a past participle, it can mean two things:
• Managing to do something: Jeg fik sovet (I managed to sleep).
• Arranging a service: Jeg får klippet håret (I am getting my hair cut).
• Recipient passive: It can also describe something happening to you: Jeg fik stjålet min taske (I had my bag stolen).

4. Getting someone to act
To express that you made or persuaded someone to do something, use få + [person] + til at + [infinitive].
Jeg fik hende til at smile (I got her to smile).

5. Permission
The phrase få lov til at is the standard way to say 'to be allowed to'.

Examples (6)

  1. Jeg får en kop kaffe.

    I am getting a cup of coffee.

    Word by Word: I get a cup coffee.

    A simple example of 'få' meaning to receive or obtain something.

  2. Jeg fik læst bogen i går.

    I managed to read the book yesterday.

    Word by Word: I got read the book yesterday.

    Using 'få' with a past participle can mean you managed to complete a task yourself.

  3. Vi fik malet huset i sommer.

    We had the house painted this summer.

    Word by Word: We got painted the house in summer.

    This uses the causative construction to show someone else did the painting for you.

  4. Jeg fik ham til at grine.

    I got him to laugh.

    Word by Word: I got him to to laugh.

    The construction 'få + person + til at' is used to express making or getting someone to do something.

  5. Jeg fik stjålet min cykel.

    I had my bike stolen.

    Word by Word: I got stolen my bike.

    This is a 'recipient passive' where something (often negative) happens to the subject.

  6. Jeg får altid hovedpine af rødvin.

    I always get a headache from red wine.

    Word by Word: I get always headache of red wine.

    Here, 'få' describes the transition into a state (starting to feel a headache).

Common Mistakes

  • Thinking 'have' and 'få' are interchangeable with guests.

    Different MeaningJeg har gæster i aften.
    Jeg får gæster i aften.

    'Jeg har gæster i aften' is a good, common sentence about tonight's plan. 'Jeg får gæster i aften' puts more weight on their arrival, as an event that will happen.

  • Using the infinitive instead of the past participle in causative sentences.

    Jeg skal få reparere bilen.
    Jeg skal få repareret bilen.

    When you get something done, the second verb must be in the past participle form (-et/-t).

  • Confusing 'få' with 'blive' for the passive voice.

    Jeg får klippet.
    Jeg bliver klippet.

    Use 'blive' for the passive (I am being cut). Use 'få' when you specify the object you are having treated (Jeg får klippet håret).

How It Connects

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

fåLevel 2Get (Få)

Learn This First

To use the verb 'få' (to get/receive), you need to understand how to conjugate verbs in the present tense and how to structure a basic sentence with a subject, a verb, and an object.

Words in This Pattern

få