Ongoing Actions — Norwegian Grammar

Norwegian has no "-ing" form for actions in progress. The plain present tense covers both "I eat" and "I am eating". When it matters that an action is going on right now, or that it is about to happen, Norwegian uses one of a few fixed constructions.

Vi spiser lunsj.
We are having lunch.

holde på å: In the Middle of It

with an infinitive says that someone is busy doing something at the moment. It can also mean that something is just about to happen.

Jeg holder på å lage middag.
I am making dinner.
Kjøttet holder på å brenne.
The meat is starting to burn.
Hun holdt på å lese da jeg kom.
She was reading when I arrived.

holde på med: Busy with Something

When the activity is named by a noun instead of a verb, takes (with).

Jeg holder på med leksene.
I am doing my homework.
Hva holder du på med?
What are you up to?

sitte, stå, ligge + og

Norwegian often describes an ongoing action by naming the body position first and joining the action with (and). Both verbs take the same tense, and the English translation simply uses "-ing".

- sit and (do something), be sitting doing it
- stand and, be standing doing it
- lie and, be lying doing it

Jeg sitter i bilen og kjører.
I am in the car, driving.
Hun står og venter på bussen.
She is waiting for the bus.
Han ligger og sover.
He is sleeping.
De satt og spiste.
They were eating.

In the Past

Both constructions work in the past tense, often to set the scene for something that interrupted the action.

Vi holdt på å spise da han ringte.
We were eating when he called.
Jeg satt og leste da du kom.
I was sitting reading when you came.

gå og + Verb

(go and) with a second verb in the same form says that someone goes off to do something, usually right away.

Jeg går og sjekker.
I'll go and check.
Gå og sjekk kjøkkenet.
Go and check the kitchen.
Jeg vil gå og danse.
I want to go dancing.

A Time Word Is Often Enough

In many sentences a word like (now) is all that is needed to show that something is happening at this moment.

Du sover nå.
You are sleeping now.
Jeg studerer nå.
I am studying now.

Comments

Loading comments…