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Klokken ni passer mig bedre end klokken otte.

Klokken ni passer mig bedre end klokken otte.
Nine o’clock suits me better than eight o’clock.

Breakdown of Klokken ni passer mig bedre end klokken otte.

mig
me
bedre
better
end
than
klokken
the time
otte
eight
ni
nine
passe
to suit
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Questions & Answers about Klokken ni passer mig bedre end klokken otte.

Why does Danish use klokken before the time?

Klokken literally means the clock, and Danish commonly uses it to introduce a clock time: klokken ni = at nine o’clock.
It’s the normal, neutral way to state a time in everyday speech.

Do I have to write the numbers as words (ni, otte) or can I use digits?

Both are used:

  • In running text, writing words is common: klokken ni.
  • In schedules, messages, and formal contexts, digits are very common: klokken 9 and klokken 8.

Both are correct; it’s mostly a style choice.

Why is it klokken ni and not klokken nio/ni’en (like in some other languages)?

In Danish, the basic way to say at nine is simply klokken + number: klokken ni.
You don’t add an extra preposition like at or an ending on the number in this construction.

What does passer mig mean grammatically?

passer is the present tense of at passe. In this meaning, at passe (nogen) means to suit (someone).
So passer mig literally means suits me.

Pattern:

  • [Thing/time] + passer + [person]
    • Klokken ni passer mig = Nine o’clock suits me.
Can I say Jeg passer klokken ni to mean “Nine suits me”?

Not with this meaning. Jeg passer klokken ni would sound like I look after nine o’clock or I match nine o’clock (not natural).
To express “Nine suits me,” Danish typically uses the time as the subject:

  • Klokken ni passer mig.

You can also say:

  • Klokken ni er bedre for mig. (Nine is better for me.)
Why is the word order Klokken ni passer mig… and not Klokken ni mig passer…?

Danish is a V2 language: in main clauses, the finite verb usually comes in the second position.
Here, Klokken ni is placed first, so the verb passer must come next:

  • Klokken ni (1st position) + passer (2nd position) + mig (later)
What’s the function of bedre and why not mere god or something like that?

bedre is the comparative form of god (good → better). It’s irregular, just like in English.
You don’t form it with something like mere in this case.

Forms:

  • god = good
  • bedre = better
  • bedst = best
Why is it bedre end and not bedre ende or a different word?

end is the standard word for than in comparisons:

  • bedre end klokken otte = better than eight o’clock

There’s no agreement ending on end; it stays end.

Why is klokken repeated? Could I omit it the second time?

Repeating klokken is very common and sounds clear and natural:

  • Klokken ni passer mig bedre end klokken otte.

You can omit it in casual speech if the context is very clear:

  • Klokken ni passer mig bedre end otte. But that can sound slightly more informal, and repeating klokken avoids any ambiguity.
Is the sentence talking about a specific day, or in general?

By itself, it’s neutral and depends on context. Most often it means for the plan we’re discussing (e.g., a meeting time).
If you want to make it explicitly about today or a specific day, you can add:

  • i dag (today), i morgen (tomorrow), på mandag (on Monday), etc.

Example:

  • Klokken ni passer mig bedre end klokken otte i morgen.
How do you pronounce klokken ni passer mig bedre end klokken otte?

A learner-friendly guide (approximate):

  • klokken ≈ KLOK-ən (the e is often a schwa-like sound)
  • ni ≈ nee (long vowel)
  • passer ≈ PAS-ər (soft final -er)
  • mig often sounds like mai / mej in many accents (the g is not a hard g)
  • bedre ≈ BEH-dra (final -e reduced)
  • end ≈ en
  • otte ≈ OT-ə (final -e reduced)

Actual pronunciation varies by region, but the big surprises for English speakers are usually mig and the reduced final -e sounds.

Could I replace passer mig bedre with something else that’s also natural?

Yes—common alternatives include:

  • Klokken ni er bedre for mig end klokken otte. (very straightforward)
  • Jeg kan bedre klokken ni end klokken otte. (more like “I can do nine better than eight,” informal)
  • Klokken ni fungerer bedre for mig end klokken otte. (sounds a bit more “it works better”)

Your original sentence is perfectly natural and idiomatic.

Is there any difference between klokken otte and otte?

Yes:

  • klokken otte clearly means at eight o’clock.
  • otte just means eight (it could be the number, or “eight (o’clock)” if the context makes it obvious).

When learning, using klokken + time is the safest and most standard way to avoid confusion.