Vi kan tage færgen i morgen, men kun hvis mekanikeren siger, at bilen er klar før afgang.

After a modal verb in Danish, the next verb normally stays in the infinitive without at.

So:

• vi kan tage = we can take
• not vi kan at tage

This works like:

• jeg vil gå = I want to go
• hun skal arbejde = she has to work
• de må vente = they may / have to wait

In Danish, at is often like English to, but it is not used after modal verbs such as kan, vil, skal, må, bør.

Yes. Tage is very commonly used where English uses take for transportation:

• tage bussen = take the bus
• tage toget = take the train
• tage færgen = take the ferry

Danish can also use other expressions depending on context, but tage færgen is the most straightforward and idiomatic choice here.

Because Danish usually puts the definite article at the end of the noun.

• en færge = a ferry
• færgen = the ferry

So tage færgen literally means take the ferry.

This is a key difference from English. Instead of a separate word like the, Danish often adds a suffix:

• en bil → bilen
• en mekaniker → mekanikeren

Mekanikeren means the mechanic, so it refers to a specific mechanic that both speaker and listener can identify from context.

• en mekaniker = a mechanic, any mechanic
• mekanikeren = the mechanic, a particular one

In this sentence, it sounds like there is a known mechanic working on the car, so the definite form is natural.

I morgen means tomorrow and functions as a time expression.

Here it comes after færgen:

• Vi kan tage færgen i morgen

That is very natural. Danish word order is fairly flexible with time expressions, so you could also say:

• I morgen kan vi tage færgen
• Vi kan i morgen tage færgen

But the original version is probably the most neutral in everyday speech.

Hvis means if.
Kun hvis means only if.

So the condition becomes stronger:

• hvis mekanikeren siger ... = if the mechanic says ...
• kun hvis mekanikeren siger ... = only if the mechanic says ...

The sentence is not just giving a possible condition; it is saying this is the one condition under which taking the ferry tomorrow is possible.

Here at means that.

• mekanikeren siger, at bilen er klar = the mechanic says that the car is ready

Just like English, Danish can introduce a content clause after verbs like say, think, know, believe.

Examples:

• jeg tror, at han kommer = I think that he is coming
• hun ved, at vi er her = she knows that we are here

In some contexts, Danish can omit at, but with sige it is very common and clear to include it.

That comma marks the start of a subordinate clause: at bilen er klar før afgang.

In modern Danish, comma use before subordinate clauses can vary depending on whether the writer uses start comma or not. So you may see both:

• mekanikeren siger, at bilen er klar
• mekanikeren siger at bilen er klar

Both can occur, depending on style and comma system.

The comma before men is also normal, because men links parts of the sentence.

Because after at, you are in a subordinate clause, and Danish word order changes.

In a normal main clause, Danish often has the finite verb in second position:

• Bilen er klar
• I morgen tager vi færgen

But in a subordinate clause introduced by at, hvis, fordi, etc., the subject usually comes before the finite verb in a more straightforward order:

• at bilen er klar
• hvis mekanikeren siger det

So at bilen er klar is the expected structure.

Før afgang means before departure.

There is no article because Danish often uses bare nouns in fixed or general expressions, especially when the noun is being used in an abstract or institutional way.

So:

• før afgang = before departure
• not necessarily før afgangen = before the departure

If you said før afgangen, that would point more directly to one specific departure. The version in the sentence is more general and idiomatic.

No. Klar can have several related meanings, including:

• ready
• clear
• finished / set
• sometimes obvious depending on context

In this sentence, bilen er klar means the car is ready, probably ready to drive or ready to be used.

So the context determines which meaning fits. Here, ready is clearly the right one.