Word order: the verb in second place
In a Norwegian main clause the verb is always the second element. This is the most important rule of Norwegian syntax.
We teach BokmÄl, the written standard most people in Norway use.
What is this about?
Word order means the order in which the words stand in a sentence. Every language has rules for it, but some are strict and some are free. Norwegian is fairly strict: the wrong order sounds odd even when every single word is correct.
The key rule is that the verb is in second place in an ordinary sentence. «Jeg spiser frokost klokka sju» (I eat breakfast at seven), the verb «spiser» is number two. If you start with the time instead, the verb still has to be number two, so «jeg» moves behind it: «Klokka sju spiser jeg frokost». This is called inversion, and it happens all the time: «I dag jobber jeg hjemme» (today I'm working from home), «PÄ fredag drar vi pÄ hytta» (on Friday we're going to the cabin).
English says «Today I work at home», with the subject before the verb. In Norwegian that becomes «I dag jobber jeg hjemme». English also needs a helper word in questions (Do you eat?), while Norwegian just puts the verb first: «Spiser du?». Once the verb-second rule sits in your head, your Norwegian will sound much more natural.
Rules
- Normal order: subject â verb â the rest: Jeg spiser frokost klokka sju.
- If you start with something else (time, place), the subject moves after the verb: Klokka sju spiser jeg frokost.
- The negation ikke comes after the verb: Jeg spiser ikke frokost.
- Questions: put the verb first â Spiser du frokost? â or start with a question word: NĂ„r spiser du frokost?
Examples
- I dag jobber jeg hjemme.Today I'm working from home.
- Jeg forstÄr ikke.I don't understand.
- Hvor bor du?Where do you live?
- Om vinteren gÄr vi pÄ ski hver sÞndag.In winter we go skiing every Sunday.
- Etter jobb handler jeg pÄ Rema.After work I do my shopping at Rema.
- Kommer bussen snart?Is the bus coming soon?
- Hvorfor svarer du ikke pÄ telefonen?Why aren't you answering the phone?
- PÄ fredag har barnehagen stengt, sÄ jeg tar fri.The kindergarten is closed on Friday, so I'm taking the day off.