lade

Let (Lade)

Level 3

The Danish verb lade is a powerful auxiliary verb. It is used to give permission (let), arrange for something to be done (have/cause), or make suggestions (let's). It is always followed by a bare infinitive (no at).

How It Works

The verb lade is essential for everyday Danish. Its usage can be broken down into these main categories:

1. Permission & Causation: Used when allowing someone to do something or causing a state to continue.
Hun lod ham gå. (She let him go.)
Han lod skægget stå. (He let his beard grow.)
Note: For arranging services (like 'having a car washed'), Danes prefer få + past participle over lade.

2. Hortative (Suggestions): Using the imperative form lad to suggest a group action.
Lad os spise! (Let's eat!)

3. Idiomatic Phrases:
• Lade som om: To pretend. (Han lader som om han er syg.)
• Lade til: To seem or appear. (Det lader til at virke.)
• Lade sig gøre: To be possible. (Det kan lade sig gøre.)

4. Negation (Don't): The fixed phrase lad være med at is the standard way to say 'don't' or 'stop doing.'

Word Order Note: The object must come immediately after lade and before the second verb: [lade] + [object] + [infinitive]. Never use the infinitive marker 'at' directly after lade (except in 'lad være med at').

Examples (6)

  1. Lad os gå en tur i skoven.

    Let's go for a walk in the forest.

    Word by Word: Let us go a walk in the-forest.

    This uses the imperative 'lad' to form a suggestion for 'us' (vi).

  2. Han lod skægget stå i ferien.

    He let his beard grow during the holiday.

    Word by Word: He let the-beard stand in the-holiday.

    A common causative use where 'lade' means to allow a state to continue.

  3. Hun lader som om, hun sover.

    She pretends that she is sleeping.

    Word by Word: She lets as if, she sleeps.

    The phrase 'lade som om' is the standard way to say 'to pretend' in Danish.

  4. Det lader til, at det bliver regnvejr.

    It seems that it will be rainy weather.

    Word by Word: It lets to, that it becomes rain-weather.

    The construction 'lade til' is used to express how something appears or seems.

  5. Det kan desværre ikke lade sig gøre.

    Unfortunately, that cannot be done.

    Word by Word: It can unfortunately not let itself do.

    The reflexive phrase 'lade sig gøre' means 'to be possible' or 'to be doable'.

  6. De lod ham vente meget længe.

    They made him wait for a very long time.

    Word by Word: They let him wait very long.

    Depending on context, 'lade' can mean 'let' or 'cause/make' someone do something.

Common Mistakes

  • Using 'at' before the second verb.

    Lad os at se en film.
    Lad os se en film.

    Lade is a modal-like verb and takes the bare infinitive. You should never use 'at' after it.

  • Incorrect word order with the object.

    Jeg lod reparere cyklen.
    Jeg lod cyklen reparere.

    In Danish, the object (cyklen) must be placed between 'lade' and the main verb.

How It Connects

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ladeLevel 3Let (Lade)

Learn This First

To use 'lade' (let/have someone do something), you need to understand how to use object pronouns as the 'doer' of the action and how to use the infinitive form of verbs without the particle 'at', similar to how modal verbs function.

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Words in This Pattern

lade