Subordinate clauses: ikke before the verb
Clauses that start with at, fordi, som, hvis, når (and similar words) have their own word order.
We teach Bokmål, the written standard most people in Norway use.
Rules
- The subject comes right after the conjunction: …fordi jeg er syk (because I am ill).
- Adverbs like ikke, alltid, aldri come BEFORE the verb: …fordi jeg ikke har tid.
- Compare: Jeg har ikke tid. (main clause) – Jeg kommer ikke fordi jeg ikke har tid. (subordinate clause)
- If the sentence starts with the subordinate clause, the main clause starts with the verb: Hvis det regner, blir jeg hjemme.
Examples
- Jeg kommer ikke fordi jeg ikke har tid.I'm not coming because I don't have time.
- Hvis det regner, blir jeg hjemme.If it rains, I'll stay at home.
- Hun sier at hun aldri drikker kaffe.She says that she never drinks coffee.
- Jeg håper at det blir fint vær i helgen.I hope the weather will be nice at the weekend.
- Når jeg kommer hjem, lager jeg middag.When I get home, I make dinner.
- Kan du si fra hvis du ikke kommer på jobb i morgen?Can you let me know if you're not coming to work tomorrow?
- Legen sa at jeg skulle ta tablettene to ganger om dagen.The doctor said I should take the tablets twice a day.
- Vi tar bussen fordi vi ikke har bil.We take the bus because we don't have a car.