På arbejdet læser vi dagsordenen, før mødet begynder i det lille mødelokale.

Both can mean at work, but there is a small difference in feel:

• på arbejde = at work / working, more general
• på arbejdet = at the workplace, a bit more concrete

So:

• Jeg er på arbejde = I am at work / I’m working
• Jeg er på arbejdet = I am at the workplace

In this sentence, På arbejdet works as a setting phrase: At work, ...

Also, arbejdet is the definite form of arbejde, so literally it is at the work / at the workplace, but in natural English we just say at work.

Because Danish main clauses normally follow the V2 rule: the finite verb comes in the second position.

Here, På arbejdet takes the first position, so the verb læser must come next:

• På arbejdet læser vi dagsordenen ...

If the subject came first, then you would get:

• Vi læser dagsordenen på arbejdet ...

Both are correct, but the focus is slightly different. Starting with På arbejdet puts more emphasis on the setting.

Because dagsordenen is the definite singular form of dagsorden.

• en dagsorden = an agenda
• dagsordenen = the agenda

In Danish, the definite article is often attached to the end of the noun instead of being a separate word.

Since dagsorden is a common-gender noun, its definite ending is -en.

Because før mødet begynder ... is a subordinate clause: before the meeting begins ...

In Danish, many writers put a comma before a subordinate clause. That is what you see here:

• På arbejdet læser vi dagsordenen, før mødet begynder ...

A useful thing to know: modern Danish allows two comma systems. So depending on the system being used, that comma may be:

• included: ..., før mødet begynder ...
• omitted: ... før mødet begynder ...

So the comma is normal, but you may also see sentences without it.

Because møde is a neuter noun.

• et møde = a meeting
• mødet = the meeting

For many neuter nouns, the definite singular ending is -et.

So this contrasts with a common-gender noun like dagsorden:

• en dagsorden → dagsordenen
• et møde → mødet

Because før introduces a subordinate clause, and subordinate clauses usually do not use main-clause V2 word order.

So after før, the normal order is:

• før + subject + verb
• før mødet begynder

Compare:

• Main clause: Mødet begynder nu
• Subordinate clause: før mødet begynder

This is a very common pattern in Danish.

This is how Danish usually forms a definite noun phrase with an adjective.

Without an adjective, you use the noun’s definite ending:

• mødelokalet = the meeting room

But with an adjective, Danish normally uses:

• det/den/de + adjective + noun in indefinite form

So:

• det lille mødelokale = the small meeting room

That is why mødelokale does not take the definite ending -t here.

Also, det is used because mødelokale is a neuter noun:

• et mødelokale
• det lille mødelokale

Yes. Danish very often writes compound nouns as one word.

Here:

• møde = meeting
• lokale = room / premises
• mødelokale = meeting room

This is completely normal in Danish. English often writes similar combinations as two words, but Danish usually joins them.

A useful rule: in a Danish compound noun, the last part is the main noun. So mødelokale is a kind of lokale, and that last part also helps determine gender:

• et lokale
• therefore et mødelokale

In this sentence, it most naturally goes with begynder:

• før mødet begynder i det lille mødelokale
• before the meeting begins in the small meeting room

So the most natural reading is that the meeting begins there.

If you wanted the location to describe where we read the agenda, Danish would usually place it earlier:

• På arbejdet læser vi dagsordenen i det lille mødelokale, før mødet begynder.

Word order helps show what a phrase belongs to.

Because Danish uses the present tense for things like:

• habitual actions
• general facts
• scheduled events

So this sentence sounds like a routine:

• At work, we read the agenda before the meeting begins ...

Also, Danish does not have a separate compulsory tense like the English present progressive in the same way. So læser can often cover meanings that English might express as either:

• read
• are reading

depending on context.

Here, the most natural interpretation is a general routine or usual practice.