Modal verbs
Modal verbs express ability, wish, obligation and permission. They are followed by an infinitive without å.
We teach Bokmål, the written standard most people in Norway use.
What is this about?
Modal verbs are small helper verbs that show your attitude to an action: can you, do you want to, must you or are you going to do it? They don't name the action itself, they add a colour to it: ability, wish, duty, plan or permission.
In Norwegian the modal verb comes first, followed by an ordinary verb in the infinitive, without «å»: «Jeg kan svømme» (I can swim), «Du må jobbe i morgen» (you have to work tomorrow), «Vi skal flytte til Bergen» (we're moving to Bergen). There are only five or six of these verbs, but they are among the most frequent words in the language.
English has similar verbs, can, must, should, but watch out for false friends. Norwegian «vil» means want, not will: «Jeg vil reise hjem» = I want to go home. And «skal» is about plans, not obligation. Where English says «want to go», Norwegian drops the «å» after a modal. You'll need these verbs everywhere: at the doctor's («Må jeg ta blodprøve?», do I have to give a blood sample?), at work («Kan du ta en vakt på lørdag?», can you take a shift on Saturday?) and in the shop («Kan jeg betale med Vipps?»).
Rules
- kan (kunne): ability or possibility – Jeg kan svømme (I can swim).
- vil (ville): wish – Jeg vil reise hjem (I want to go home). Careful: vil does NOT mean “will”.
- må (måtte): obligation – Du må jobbe i morgen (you must work tomorrow).
- skal (skulle): plan – Vi skal flytte (we are going to move).
- bør (burde): advice – Du bør hvile (you should rest). får (få): permission – Får jeg komme inn?
- No å after the modal: Jeg kan snakke (not: kan å snakke). Ikke goes after the modal: Jeg kan ikke komme.
Examples
- Kan du hjelpe meg?Can you help me?
- Jeg må gå nå.I have to go now.
- Vil du ha en kopp kaffe?Would you like a cup of coffee?
- Du bør ikke røyke.You shouldn't smoke.
- Du må ta med legitimasjon når du henter pakken.You have to bring ID when you pick up the parcel.
- Får vi parkere her?Are we allowed to park here?
- Jeg vil gjerne bestille time hos fastlegen.I'd like to book an appointment with my GP.
- Vi skulle gå på tur, men det regnet hele dagen.We were going to go hiking, but it rained all day.