Conjunctions and subordinators
Og, men, så join main clauses. At, fordi, når start a subordinate clause – and change the word order.
We teach Bokmål, the written standard most people in Norway use.
What is this about?
Conjunctions are small words that join parts of a sentence: and, but, because, when. With them you move from short, simple sentences to longer ones that explain reasons, time and conditions. That's when your Norwegian starts to sound grown-up.
Norwegian has two kinds. The first joins two ordinary sentences, and the word order doesn't change: «Jeg er sliten, men jeg går på jobb» (I'm tired, but I'm going to work). The second starts a subordinate clause, a clause that can't stand on its own: «…fordi jeg er syk» (…because I'm ill), «…når jeg kommer hjem» (…when I get home). In the subordinate clause words like «ikke» move in front of the verb: «Jeg blir hjemme fordi jeg ikke har tid» (I'm staying home because I don't have time). And if you start with the subordinate clause, the verb comes straight after the comma: «Når jeg kommer hjem, lager jeg mat» (when I get home, I cook).
English word order has no such rules: «because I don't have time», «when I get home, I cook». English also has only one word for when, while Norwegian splits it into «når» and «da». With conjunctions you can explain yourself in an email to your boss, talk to your GP and say why you were late.
Rules
- Coordinating conjunctions: og (and), men (but), eller (or), for (because), så (so). Normal main-clause order follows: Jeg er sliten, så jeg går hjem.
- For = because, but with main-clause order and a bit formal: Hun ble hjemme, for hun var syk.
- Så (so) does NOT cause inversion when joining clauses: …, så jeg går hjem. But the adverb derfor (therefore) does: Derfor går jeg hjem.
- Subordinators: at (that), fordi (because), når (when), da (when), hvis (if), om (if/whether), selv om (even though), mens (while), før (before), etter at (after), siden (since), til (until), slik at (so that).
- In the subordinate clause ikke/aldri/alltid go BEFORE the verb: …fordi jeg ikke har tid.
- If the sentence starts with a subordinate clause, the main clause inverts: Når jeg kommer hjem, lager jeg mat.
- Når vs da – English has only 'when'! Når = repeated (past) or present/future: Når jeg var liten, badet vi hver sommer. Når jeg kommer, ringer jeg.
- Da = once, in the past: Da jeg var 10 år, flyttet vi. Da jeg kom hjem i går, var døra åpen.
- Hvis = condition (if), selv om = even though, mens = while, før / etter at = order of events. Don't use 'etter' alone before a clause: etter at jeg spiste.
- Questions: Når kommer du? – here når is a question word, not a subordinator.
Examples
- Jeg er trøtt, men jeg må jobbe.I'm tired, but I have to work.
- Det regner, så vi tar bussen.It's raining, so we're taking the bus.
- Hun kommer ikke fordi hun er syk.She isn't coming because she is ill.
- Da jeg kom til Norge, kunne jeg ikke norsk.When I came to Norway, I didn't know Norwegian.
- Når det snør, går vi på ski.When it snows, we go skiing.
- Hvis du har tid, kan du ringe meg.If you have time, you can call me.
- Vi gikk ut selv om det var kaldt.We went out even though it was cold.
- Han leser mens hun lager mat.He reads while she cooks.