Grammar notes
Last week on the course…last Grammar Notes step!
Most of the heavy grammar is done, so now you have to review and put into practice what you have learnt these past weeks.
We have just a couple of things left, and then you’re good to go.
S-verbs
Some Norwegian verbs end in –s in all forms.
Here are some of the most common ones:
| Infinitive | Present tense | Preterite | Present perfect |
| å synes – to think | synes | syntes | har syntes |
| å trives – to like a situation | trives | trivdes | har trivdes |
| å finnes – to exist | finnes | fantes | har funnes |
| å møtes – to meet each other | møtes | møttes | har møttes |
| å ses – to see each other | ses | såes | har settes |
Examples:
| Ben trives i Fjordvik. | Ben likes living in Fjordvik. |
| Han syntes lutefisk var rart. | He thought «lutefisk» was strange. |
| Nina og Cecilie møttes i Oslo. | Nina and Cecilie met in Oslo. |
| Vi ses i morgen! | See you tomorrow! |
Ben trives veldig godt i Norge og synes naturen er fantastisk
COMMA RULES
1) We always use a comma in front of MEN (but):
Anne bor i Fjordvik , men hun kommer fra Lillestrøm.
Anne lives in Fjordvik, but she comes from Lillestrøm.
2) We use a comma in front of the conjunctions OG (and), FOR (because) and SÅ (so) when the following sentence is a complete main clause:
Jørgen har bodd i Fjordvik i ti år , og han jobber i en bank. (two main clauses connected by OG)
Jørgen has lived in Fjordvik for ten years, and he works in a bank.
BUT:
Jørgen har bodd i Fjordvik i ti år og jobber i en bank. (one sentence)
Jørgen has lived in Fjordvik for ten years and works in a bank.
3) We use a comma before, and after a parenthetical clause, that means a subordinate clause which gives extra, yet not necessary, information and can be taken away without changing the meaning of the main sentence:
Ben , som kommer fra Frankrike, bor i Fjordvik.
Ben, who comes from France, lives in Fjordvik.
4) We always use commas by enumeration:
Han spiser vanligvis kylling , laks , pasta , ris og grønnsaker til middag.
He usually has chicken, salmon, pasta, rice and vegetables for dinner.
5) We use a comma when the subordinate clause is placed in front of the main clause:
Hvis Eva hjelper henne , blir Tone glad.
If Eva helps her, Tone will be happy.
6) We use a comma after direct speech:
«Vil du ha hjelp?» , spør Eva.
«Would you like some help?» Eva asks.
