norwegian an essential grammar

104 Pages·2008·44.27 MB·English

Essential Grammars

An Essential
Grammar

a

spcrunow

~ Ase-Berit and

Rolf Strandskogen

AS eae
NORWEGIAN:
AN ESSENTIAL GRAMMAR

Ase-Berit and Rolf Strandskogen
Translated by Barbara White

R

London and New York
Sinataneuslypublcheic the JSA ans Canes

1 Gris Forlag Norway 1986

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Prints en acess paper

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‘i eligi ad crs way nator sear"

‘ten Lovey Cataloguing Puen Date
‘atlaue eco er he sak abi rom the Sah oany

Stardstopershecaene 87 "ron Dae
Rowegser'ssaciea granme’/ieeSaert and pt Sraneskopen; rare by

Contents

Preface

I Parts of speech
VERRS

INFINITIVE

IMPERATIVE

SUBIUNCTIVE

INDICATIVE

Active

Passive

Present

Past (Imperfect)

Perfect

Pluperfect

Future

Future Pesfeet

Conditional

Congitional Perfect

The Continuous Aspect

SEQUENCE OF TENSES

MODAL AUXILIARIES

‘Modal auxiliaries without a main verb
TRANSITIVE AND INTRANSITIVE VERBS
Conjugation of some intransitive and transitive verbs
SFPARABLE AND INSEPARABLE COMPOUND VERBS
PRESENT PARTICIPLE

VERBS ENDING INS

CONIUGATIONS

ARTICLES
FORM

Articles in relation to couns
Articles in relation to adjectives

3
FUNCTION
Simplelcompound definite
Rules for use of the articles

NOUNS
GENDER
Masculine
Femi

Neuter
DECLENSIONS

‘Masculine nouns

Feminine nouns

Newer novins

MORE ABOUT SINGULAR AND PLURAL
DEFINITE. OR INDEFINITE FORM

CASE

Nominative

Genitive

Dative

COMPOUND NOUNS

Noun + Noun

Adjective + Noun

Verb + Noun

Preposition + Noun

Adverb + Nowa

ADJECTIVES
DECLENSIONS,
‘Regular declension
Irregular forms

Liten»

«Annem» and «egen»

Mange and «eryor
the indetinite form af the adjective
‘The definite form of the adjective
Suovessive adjectives
“The past participle used as an adie
Other adjectives ending in et
Comparison of adjectives
Concord

eegegeas

ADVERBS

FORMS

‘Comparison of adverbs

ADVERBS OF DEGREE,

‘<Veldig» ~ emye» — aenda» ~ saller»

ADVERBS OF PLACE
Slative and dynamic pais
Pairs with the sume meanings

ADVERBS OF MANNER
«Slik’snn» ~ esliktsdnt>
«Hvordan»

ADVERBS OF MODIFICATION,
“Das, «nok», «jon, aveln, ands, asikkerts
aMleller»

ADVERBS OF TIME
«Enns ~ «enda»

“Das she

«Noen gange ~ «Noen ganger»
«Sjeldens ~ «sjeldent»

“ekpests

|ADVERBIAL PHRASES OF TIME
gl» ai day ~ «i morgen
«Om sommerenvinreren
Om dagewnatten»
ef Bo» ~ ni fret
Duration of time
Holidays.

How longer
During

PRONOUNS
PERSONAL PRONOUNS,

Subject form

Subject or object torm

Indefinite use ~ civ», wile»

Neutral forms — «dems, «let

Repetition of subject form

Object form in exclamations

REFLEXIVE PRONOUNS

In reflexive verbs

(Comparison with objeet form of personal pronouns

5
Reflexiveinon-reflexive verbs
Infinitives after relesive pronouns
POSSESSIVE PRONOUNS,
Position of possessives
Genitive
Reflexive possessive pronouns
DEMONSTRATIVE PRONOUNS
Form
Obligatory neuter singular form
Definite article or demonstrative pronoun?
‘Compound’Simple definite
‘Special note on demonstrative pronouns
‘Other demonstrative pronouns
‘Slik = waikt» ~ liken
Same»
Selvisjol(e)»
sBegye
INTERROGATIVE PRONOUNS,
oHven
Hea»
cHivilken ~ sbvilkews~ «bike»
cHiva for enfetinocinoen»
RELATIVE PRONOUNS:
«Som»
|AS subject in relative clauses
Special uses af «sont
Literary forms
Cleft sentences
«Som» in relation to time and place
RECIPROCAL PRONOUNS:
Fach other
INDEFINITE PRONOUNS
One
“Assertive pronouns ~ ngen/aoe
‘anneniannetiandre
Negative pronouns ~ no one!nothing
Universal pronouns ~ alleveryoneieversthing

cuchievery
Impersonal pronoun

CONJUNCTIONS
COORDINATING CONIUNCTIONS
SUBORDINATING CONJUNCTIONS
WA
<Om»
Conjunetions of time
“Daw — end»
Etter ato ~ «eters —vetterpae
sk or» — «foram ~ stidligere»
Conjunetions of eause
Foi» — for»
<Pordin ~ wderfors
Conjunctions of condition
oUten at» — auton a
Conjunetions of concession
Conjusctions of parpose
Conjunetions of result
Si»
Conjurctions of comparison

INTERIECTIONS

NUMERALS
CARDINALS'ORDINALS

Noves on eenvénvetiett»

Second

Alternative forms

Dates and age

Fractions

The clock

Money

Some idioms

Numerals writen as words or figures

PREPOSITIONS
Place

Time

Purpose

Means
Autibute
Genitive

7
Passive
Prepositional phrases which
‘replace genitives

Prepositional phrases which
replace compound nouns

Idiomatic prepositional phrases

II Sentence elements
SUBJECT

‘eDety as subject

VERE PHRASE
‘COMPLEMENT
OBIECT

INDIRECT OBJECT
‘ADVERBIAL

TI Sentence structure
MAIN CLAUSES
SUBORDINATE CLAUSES

IV Word order
MAIN CLAUSES
Position of the subject
Position of the verb phrase
Postion of the adverbial

Position of the direct and indirect object

Position of the reflexive pronoun

SUBORDINATE CLAUSES

SUBORDINATE CLAUSE RELATIVE TO MAIN CLAUSE
Subordinate clause first

Main clause first
RULES FOR THE US

E OF COMMAS

Index

160

160

Preface

“This prammar has been written specially for non Norwegians. Our
aim has heen to give a simple, step-by-step presentation of the
prammatical rules and systems of Norwegian «hakmal», one of the
‘0 ffcial written variants of Norwegian, The many examples given
throughout the book assist the reader in practical usages whieh
have proved dificult for those learning the language. As the
intention of this hook isto give a practical guide to modern Norwegian
as itis used in an everyelay context, emphasis bas been given 10
providing translations of the Norwegian examples which ure us
colloquial und idiomatic as possible. The British English variants
used throughout in che translations may «m aecasion appear
unfamiliar 1o speakers of, for example, American English, but this
should not be an obstacle to a full understanding of che text.

Haslum, January 1986

Axe-Berit und Rolf Strandskogen
Barbara White
I Parts of speech

a Norwegian, words are traditionally classiied by these 10 parts
‘of speech

1. VERBS - examples: 24 (go). lose (read), stake (Cal)

2. ARTICLES - examples: en, ci et (a, one]

3. NOUNS ~ examples: hus (house), mat (Food), bok (book)

4. ADIECTIVES - examples: god (good), stor (big), ung
(young) ;

5, ADVERBS ~ examples: ute (out), bjemme (at home), na
(now)

6, PRONOUNS ~ examples: jog (1), meg (me), min (my, mine}

7. CONIUNCTIONS - examples: hvis (i), fordi (because), og
(and)

&. INTERIECTIONS ~ examples: au (oueh). he’ (hello), ui (oh)

9, NUMERALS - examples: en (one), to (two), forste (Est),
annen (second)

Il, PREPOSITIONS ~ examples: tl (0), pit (om, at), hos (by,
with)

u
VERBS
Infinitive
FORM:

“Most infinitives end in » vowel, usually unstressed -e
Examples:

sake (talk) forte (tell) af (50)
reise (travel) synge (sine) De (live)
sparre (ask) danse (dance) sy (sew)

Verbs ending in -s also have the -s form in the infinitive
Examples:

trives (thrive, do well) treffes (meet up)

rnigtes (meet each ether) brakes (be used)

Note: Verbs are always given in a dictionary in the infinitive form,
‘often preceded hy the infinitive marker d (to)

FUNCTION:

Examples:

Jeg kan snake norsk. (I can speak Norwegian.)

Han vil ikke komme ni. (He doesn't want to come now.)

1Du bar ikke gjore det. (You shouldn't do that.)

De sll og pe e us. (They were ao Bing by
>)

Dere ma spise nd. (You must eat now:)

Jeg, twr ikke gd ule nir det er mur. (I don’t dare walk outside

after dark.)

R

, After the verbs «ber (ask), shores (hear), ekjenne> (feel) la»
(ed, «30> (ee)
Examples:
Jeg bad ham komme, (T asked him o come.)
Han lot oss vere samen. (Te let us be together.)
Jeg harle noen snakke der ute, (I heard someone talking out
there.)
Jeg sh dem lope a sted i fl fart. (saw them ru off a full
speed.)
dog kjemte set sv, (Tel the et stinging.)

Im such expressions a5:
Hivorfor grite nis man kan Je? (Why ery when you can laugh?)
Hyorfor ikke giore det? (Why don't we do that?)

Noi, snake, det kunne han ikke. (No, tak [was something] he
couldn't do.)

4. In a string of st
‘See under Infinitive focm with «4, scetion f

Inflntve form with «a»
a. As the subject of a sentence:
Examples:
Ai snakke norsk er litt vanskelig. (Spewking [literally 0 speak]
Norwegian is a bit difficult)
A gi pi ski ex morsomt. (Skiing Piteraly: to walk on ska) is fun.)
‘A tale er solv, men @ se er gull. (Speech is silver, but silence is
golden literally: to speak is silver, but to remain silent is golden].

b. As the object of a sentence:
Exumples
Jeg liker d danse. (1 lke o dance.)
Han onsket fly. (He wanted 10 jy.)
“Hun provde d srakke, (She tried 10 sak.)

AAs the complement of a sentence:
Examples:

Det er 4 gjére for mye av ingenting. (That is making [literally
‘0 make 100 much out of nothing.)

Det synes d ta lang td. (Tt seems to Be taking [literally to take]
along time.)

B
4

4

{In inflnitive clauses:
Examples:

seg har mye d fortele tra den reisen, (I have alot to el fom that
trip.)

Man ville gjerme ha nce d dritke, (He would like something to
drink.)

Det var ikke annet d gore. (There was nothing else to do.)

After a preposition:
Examples:

Hun gikk for d handle, (She went out shopping.)

Det var et forsok pi d lure de andro, (It was an attempt 10 fool
the others.)

De hadde hestemt seg for d giore det. (They had decided ro do
it)

In a string of infinitives:
1. Coordinated infinity
and elle (or)
Examples
Han late snakke og (8) skrive. (He learned to talk and (to)
write.)
De likte & hoppe og (8) danse. (They liked to jump and (to)
dance.)
De skulle beuynae a skrve eller (8) leve. (They were going
to start to write or (fo) read.)

A i usually omitted after op (and)

2, Uneoordinated infinitives: 4 cannot be omitted.

Examples
Han mé lere & snake. (He must learn to talk.)
toot

int ink

Han ma lere & snake, (8) skrive og (@) lose
. $
ink. int in, iat

(He must learn to tak, (Xo) write and ((0) read.)

‘Tun hadde bestemt seg for & prove & slute 4 royke og dike
toot et 1
inf ink inf. ant

(She had decided to try to stop smoking and drinking.)

In such expressions as:
Sant @ si (To tell the truth)
Vel & merke (Mind you)
Sid si (So to speak)

bh, After Ver i snill (please:
Examples:
Vers snill 4 lukke drat
(Please shu the door!)

(Or: Var sh sill og fukle dora!

Var si sill d komme press! Or: Veer si snill og kom
presis

(Please come on time!

‘Vax si sill d forsyne dere!» Or: Var st snill og forsyn
dere!
(Please help yourselves!)

i. After an imperative
Husk d slukke Iyset! (Remember to switch off the ight!)
Prov d forstd dette! (Try to understand this!)

Bepynn d gd na! (Start watking now")

Imperative
FORM:

‘Verbs ending in -e i te infinitive lose the -e to form the imperative.
Examples

Infinitive: Imperative:

snakke (talk) > snakk! (talk!)

spise (cat) — spis! (cat!)

komme (come) + Kom! (come!)

(NB mis never written
double when Binal.)
18
For verbs which da not end in e inthe infinitive, the form of the

‘imperative is identical to that of the infinitive.
Examples

eh (go) — eA! (go!)
i (say) — sil (say!)

[Negative imperative
Examples:

Ikke snakk! (Don't talk!)
Ikke kom! (Don't come!)
Tkke rayk! (Don’t smoke!)
Ikke ga! (Don’t go!)

FUNCTION:
‘The imperative can he used to give an order. As the imperative
form can often be regarded as a command, & milder, more polite

form of expressions frequent used in order to avoiding 0 bash

Examples:

Skriv dette brevet! > Vildu skrive dette brevet?
(Will you write this leer?)

Ver si sill & 98 na.

(Go nom!) (Please go now.)

Kan du gh ni?
(Can you go nom?)

Hent pakkene pi Kunne du (weee snl 8)

postkontovet! + hente pakkene pa
pestkontoret?

(Pick up the parcels at (Could you (pleese) pick up

the post office!) the parcels atthe post
otfice?)

Using the imperative does not always have t0 give a harsh
impression ~ a lot depends on the way itis sai (intonation, stress
pattems, et,), The imperative i given a friendly tone when followed
by sé, da vel, ete

Examples:

‘Kom s8 tar vi en kopp Kalle! (Come on, lot's have a cup of coffee!)
‘Set deg da vel! (Do sit down then!)

Gjor det da (ve)! ((Well), do it thent)

16

Subjunctive

FORM:
As the infinitive

FUNCTION:
‘Tete are few examples of the subjunctive in modern Noxweeian,
compared to Old Norse where the subjunctive form of the verh was
in regular use

‘Modern Norwegian does however use the subjunctive in certain
sdioms

Exomples:

‘Kongen leve! (Long live the King’)

Enver feie tor sin egen cr! ([Literlly: let every man sweep
before Ais own door!) i.e. pul your own house in order)

In Old Norse, the subjunctive was used lo express & wish, request
fr intent. Nowadays other forms are used, such as the conditional
tense, modal verbs, ete

Indicative

In all the indicative tenses the appropriate inflectional endings are
Joined on to the verb stem. The ending for each fense is the same for
all persons of the verb, both singular and plural

In the indicative these forms of the verb are found:
ACTIVE

1, Present: Han spiser (He eats)
2. Past (Imperfect): Han spise (He atc)

3. Perfect: Han har spist (He has eaten)

44. Pluperfect: Han hadde spist (He had eaten)

S. Future: Han skal spise (He will ea!)

6. Future perfect: Wan skal ha spist (He will have eaten)

7. Condional: Han skulle spise (He was going toiabout to eat)
Conditional perfect: Han skulle (ha) spise (Hee should have eaten)