C1 – Advanced
Idioms, style and precise word choice, academic Norwegian, the language of the news and the Bergen test.
Take the level test (120 questions)Grammar on this level
Advanced word order
What you put first in a sentence decides what the reader notices. Here you learn to move parts of the sentence to create emphasis, contrast and flow.
Open →The passive: nuances and style
Norwegian has two passive forms, and you can often choose an active sentence with man or vi instead. The choice affects both meaning and tone.
Open →Conditionals with inversion
Hadde jeg visst det, ville jeg ha sagt nei – had I known, I'd have said no. Here you learn to express conditions without hvis and to talk about what could have happened.
Open →Nominal style and plain language
Bureaucratic Norwegian is full of heavy nouns and passives. Here you learn to recognise nominal style and rewrite it into clear, modern Norwegian.
Open →Modal particles: jo, vel, nok, da …
Small words like jo, vel and nok don't change what you say, but how it comes across. They make spoken Norwegian sound natural.
Open →Present participles and participle phrases
The -ende form (gående, sittende) is more limited in Norwegian than in many other languages. Here you learn where it is used – and where it isn't.
Open →Cohesion and reference in texts
A text holds together when words point clearly back to what you've already said. Here you learn sin/hans, dette, førstnevnte and henholdsvis.
Open →The subjunctive and old fixed expressions
Norwegian has almost lost the subjunctive, but it lives on in expressions like Leve kongen! and koste hva det koste vil. Here you learn to recognise and use them correctly.
Open →Common idioms
Idioms make language come alive. Here you learn eight expressions Norwegians use a lot, what they mean and when they fit.
Open →Collocations: words that belong together
Norwegians «take» a decision and «put» a question. The right verb + noun makes you sound natural.
Open →Synonyms and shades of meaning
Si or fortelle? Mene, synes or tro? At C1 level you choose the word that says exactly what you mean.
Open →Register and style
The same message can be informal, neutral or formal. Here you learn to adapt your language to the situation and the reader.
Open →Advanced word formation
If you know endings like -sjon, -isere, -itet and -isme and how compounds work, you can understand thousands of new words.
Open →False friends
Some Norwegian words look like English words but mean something else. Here are the most common traps.
Open →Advanced phrasal verbs
Gå ut fra, stå for, komme an på: a small particle can change the meaning of a verb completely. The particle is often stressed.
Open →Advanced fixed prepositions
Ansvar for, mangel på, tvil om: many words require a specific preposition. Here you learn the key ones at C1 level.
Open →The argumentative essay (drøftende tekst)
An argumentative essay looks at an issue from several sides before you reach a conclusion. Clear structure and nuanced wording are the key.
Open →Complex sentences
At C1 you build long sentences with several subordinate clauses – without losing control of the word order.
Open →Language for meetings and negotiations
Norwegian meetings are often informal and consensus-driven. Here you learn to take the floor, disagree diplomatically and reach a decision.
Open →News language
Headlines from NRK and Aftenposten are short and compressed. Once you know the patterns and key words, you read the news much faster.
Open →Spoken reductions: how Norwegians really talk
In fast speech, words merge and endings disappear. You should write standard Bokmål, but you need to understand how people actually speak.
Open →Irony and understatement
Norwegians rarely exaggerate. Praise is often cautious, criticism often indirect, and irony comes with a straight face. Here you learn to read between the lines.
Open →The Bergen test (Bergenstesten)
Bergenstesten – officially «Test i norsk – høyere nivå» (Test in Norwegian – advanced level) – is the exam for documenting advanced Norwegian. Here's an overview and some solid advice. Always check the latest information from Folkeuniversitetet.
Open →Academic Norwegian
Reports, bachelor's and master's theses require precise, cautious and objective language. Here you learn to cite sources and tie your text together.
Open →Words with audio
- henholdsvisrespectively
- førstnevnte / sistnevntethe former / the latter
- dersomif, provided that (formal)
- med mindreunless
- i henhold tilpursuant to, in accordance with
- vedrørenderegarding, concerning
- å foretato carry out (formal, often empty)
- å iverksetteto implement, put into effect
- klarspråkplain language
- de pårørendenext of kin, relatives (of a patient)
- gjeldendecurrent, in force
- alt tatt i betraktningall things considered
- koste hva det koste vilwhatever the cost
- som seg hør og børas is right and proper
- derimoton the other hand, however
- mot formodningcontrary to expectation
- ta seg vann over hodetbite off more than you can chew
- ikke se skogen for bare trærcan't see the wood for the trees
- slå to fluer i en smekkkill two birds with one stone
- det er ingen ku på isenthere's nothing to worry about
- gi noen lang neseoutwit someone, thumb your nose at someone
- ha en finger med i spillethave a hand in something
- kaste perler for svincast pearls before swine
- snakke rett fra levraspeak your mind
- ta en avgjørelsemake a decision
- stille et spørsmålask a question
- legge vekt påemphasise, attach importance to
- komme til enighetreach an agreement
- ta hensyn tiltake into account, show consideration for
- påståclaim, allege
- avgjørendedecisive
- vesentligessential, significant
- Med vennlig hilsenKind regards
- en hestekura drastic remedy
- en blindveia dead end
- eventueltpossibly, if necessary
- aktuellrelevant, under consideration
- gå ut fraassume
- komme an pådepend on
- mangel pålack of, shortage of
- takket værethanks to
- å drøfteto discuss (weigh up)
- en problemstillinga research question, issue
- riktignokadmittedly
- såledesthus
- en disposisjonan outline
- en innvendingan objection
- å enes omto agree on
- et vedtaka decision, resolution
- å møtes på halvveiento meet halfway
- en varslera whistleblower
- en høringa public consultation; a hearing
- statsbudsjettetthe state budget
- siktetcharged (formally suspected)
- etter det NRK erfarerNRK understands that (unconfirmed)
- ikke så verstpretty good (lit. not so bad)
- ikke akkuratnot exactly (= not at all)
- å skryteto boast, show off
- å underdriveto understate, play down
- en uttalea pronunciation
- trykklettunstressed
- en kildehenvisninga reference, citation
- følgeligconsequently
- imidlertidhowever
- i lys avin light of
- et utvalga sample; a committee