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Norwegian grammar · A1

Modal Verbs

Alexander StebnerCreator of Lingora2 min readComments

Modal verbs add a shade of meaning to another verb: ability, necessity, wish, plan or advice. Norwegian has five of them, and they behave differently from ordinary verbs in two ways. Their present tense has no -r, and the verb that follows them is a bare infinitive, with no .

  • (past ) - can, be able to
  • (past ) - must, have to
  • (past ) - want to, will
  • (past ) - shall, be going to, be supposed to
  • (past ) - should, ought to

  • Jeg kan spille piano.

    I can play the piano.

  • Jeg må gå.

    I have to go.

01

Word Order

In a statement the modal comes second and the infinitive later; sits between them. In a question the modal comes first.

  • Jeg kan ikke kjøre bil.

    I can't drive a car.

  • Kan du åpne denne flasken?

    Can you open this bottle?

02

kan: Ability, Permission and Knowing

covers ability and permission, and it is the polite way to ask for something. On its own, without another verb, it means knowing a language or a skill.

  • Kan jeg få regningen?

    Can I have the bill?

  • Jeg kan engelsk og koreansk.

    I speak English and Korean.

03

må and the Trap of må ikke

expresses necessity. With it becomes a prohibition: "must not". To say that something is not necessary, Norwegian uses instead.

  • Du må øve.

    You have to practise.

  • Du må ikke røyke her.

    You must not smoke here.

  • Jeg trenger ikke dra ennå.

    I don't need to leave yet.

04

vil: Wanting

means "want to". When what you want is a thing rather than an action, Norwegian adds (have): means "want".

  • Jeg vil dra hjem nå.

    I want to go home now.

  • Vil du ha en øl?

    Would you like a beer?

can also simply point to the future, especially for predictions.

  • Den vil se flott ut på rommet mitt.

    It will look great in my room.

05

skal: Plans and Arrangements

announces something that has been decided or arranged.

  • Jeg skal gå på teater.

    I am going to the theatre.

  • Skal vi gå på kino?

    Shall we go to the cinema?

06

bør: Advice

gives advice or states what would be right.

  • Du bør spare penger.

    You should save money.

  • Maten bør være sterk.

    The food should be spicy.

07

Leaving Out the Verb of Movement

When the destination is named, the verb of movement is usually left out after a modal. The direction word or the place alone carries the meaning of going.

  • Jeg må på toalettet.

    I need to go to the toilet.

  • Jeg skal til supermarkedet.

    I am going to the supermarket.

  • Jeg vil inn i denne butikken.

    I want to go into this shop.

08

The Past Forms

The past forms , , , and refer to the past, and they also make a request softer or a statement hypothetical.

  • Jeg måtte jobbe i går.

    I had to work yesterday.

  • Kunne du gjenta det?

    Could you repeat that?

  • Du burde ta på jakke.

    You ought to put on a jacket.

In the course

Sentences from Lingora’s Norwegian course

92 of the course's 500 sentences use this, the first in lesson 8. A few of them, with the words “Modal Verbs” is about in bold:

  • Jeg vil dra hjem nå.

    I want to go home now.

    Lesson 71

  • Jeg må sykle til jeg får ny bil.

    I have to ride my bike until I get a new car.

    Lesson 301

  • Jeg skulle ønske du var mer sparsommelig.

    I wish you were more frugal.

    Lesson 328

All 39 Norwegian grammar topics

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