S-verbs: synes, trives, finnes, møtes
Some verbs always end in -s, even though they aren't passive. You need them every day: Jeg synes det er kaldt (I think it's cold). Hvordan trives du i Norge? (How do you like Norway?)
We teach Bokmål, the written standard most people in Norway use.
In short: some verbs always end in -s, and here the -s does not mean passive: synes (think, find), trives (be happy somewhere), finnes (exist), møtes (meet each other).
What is this about?
Some Norwegian verbs always end in -s. It's not a mistake, and it's not the passive, that's just what these verbs look like. They're called s-verbs, and several of them are among the most-used words in daily life.
The most common is «synes», which means to have an opinion: «Jeg synes det er kaldt i dag» (I think it's cold today). Then there's «trives», to be happy somewhere: «Jeg trives godt i Tromsø» (I really like it in Tromsø). And «finnes», to exist: «Finnes det et apotek her?» (is there a pharmacy here?). Another group means each other: «Vi møtes på Jernbanetorget» means we meet each other there. «Vi ses i morgen!» (see you tomorrow!) is what you say when you leave. The -s stays in every tense: «Jeg syntes filmen var bra» (I thought the film was good).
English has nothing like this. You say I think, I like it here, there is, we meet. That's why English speakers often drop the -s and say «Jeg syner» or «Jeg triver». Just learn these verbs as fixed words. You'll need them in almost every conversation: when colleagues ask «Hva synes du?» (what do you think?), when a neighbour wonders «Trives du her?» (are you happy here?), and when you arrange to meet friends.
Rules
- The -s stays in every tense: å synes – synes – syntes – har syntes: Jeg syntes konserten var bra.
- å trives – trives – trivdes – har trivdes = to feel at home, to be happy somewhere: Jeg trives godt i Tromsø.
- å finnes – finnes – fantes = to exist, there is: Finnes det et apotek i nærheten? (Is there a pharmacy nearby?)
- Some s-verbs mean 'each other': møtes, ses (or sees), treffes: Vi møtes på Jernbanetorget. Vi ses i morgen! (See you tomorrow!)
- Vi møtes = Vi møter hverandre. Both are correct; the s-form is just shorter.
- Other common ones: å lykkes (to succeed), å minnes (to remember), å slåss (to fight): Jeg håper du lykkes på intervjuet.
- håpes is a real passive (it is hoped) and mostly turns up in the news: Det håpes at veien over Haukeli åpner i kveld. In everyday life we say: Vi håper at …
- synes = your own opinion, based on something you have seen, tasted or experienced: Jeg synes maten er for salt.
- tro = you think something is true but you're not sure – or believe in something: Jeg tror bussen er forsinket. Hun tror på Gud.
- tenke = what goes on in your head, or a plan: Jeg tenker på deg. Vi tenker å flytte til Stavanger.
- Quick test: does 'in my opinion' fit? Then it's synes. Does 'probably' fit? Then it's tro.
Typical mistake: 'I think the film is good' is Jeg synes filmen er bra, not Jeg tenker at filmen er bra. Tenke is the thinking itself, not your opinion.
Examples
- Hvordan trives du i Bodø?How do you like living in Bodø?
- Jeg synes det er for kaldt til å bade i dag.I think it's too cold to go swimming today.
- Vi møtes utenfor Oslo S klokka sju.We'll meet outside Oslo Central Station at seven.
- Finnes det en ladestasjon i nærheten?Is there a charging station nearby?
- Jeg tror toget er forsinket på grunn av snøen.I think the train is delayed because of the snow.
- Ha det, vi ses på mandag!Bye, see you on Monday!
- Ingrid har trivdes i barnehagen helt fra første dag.Ingrid has been happy at kindergarten right from the first day.
- Jeg tenker mye på familien min i Kraków.I think about my family in Kraków a lot.