Word Order: The Verb in Second Place — Norwegian Grammar

In a Norwegian main clause the verb that carries the tense always stands in second place. Anything can come first: the subject, a time, a place, an object, a whole clause. When something other than the subject comes first, the subject moves behind the verb. This rule, usually called "verb second", shapes almost every sentence.

Jeg spiser nå.
I am eating now.
Nå spiser jeg.
Now I am eating.

Time and Place First

Norwegians very often open a sentence with when or where something happens. The verb follows immediately, and the subject comes after it.

I dag er det fredag.
Today is Friday.
I morgen skal jeg vaske håret mitt.
Tomorrow I am going to wash my hair.
Hver ettermiddag spiller jeg basketball.
Every afternoon I play basketball.
I Norge snakker man norsk.
In Norway people speak Norwegian.

Adverbs First

Words that comment on the whole sentence, such as (unfortunately) or (then), work the same way.

Dessverre har jeg en tidskonflikt.
Unfortunately I have a scheduling conflict.
Så tar du til venstre.
Then you turn left.
Først tar jeg en dusj.
First I take a shower.

The Object First

Putting the object first gives it emphasis or links it to what was just said. The verb still comes second.

Det vet jeg ikke.
That I don't know.
Nei, det har jeg ikke.
No, I don't have that.

A Whole Clause First

A clause starting with (if), (when) or a similar word counts as one single element. The verb of the main clause comes right after the comma.

Når jeg studerer, blir jeg veldig trøtt.
When I study, I get very tired.
Hvis jeg var rik, ville jeg eie en større leilighet.
If I were rich, I would own a bigger apartment.

Question Words First

A question word takes first place, and the verb comes second.

Hva gjør dere nå?
What are you doing now?
Hvor kommer du fra?
Where do you come from?

Only One Verb Moves

Only the verb that carries the tense takes second place. An infinitive or a participle stays further back, after the subject.

I morgen skal jeg besøke museet.
Tomorrow I am going to visit the museum.
Nå har jeg spist.
Now I have eaten.

Where ikke Goes

(not) follows the verb. When the subject has moved behind the verb, comes after the subject.

Jeg kommer ikke i dag.
I am not coming today.
I dag kommer jeg ikke.
Today I am not coming.
Hvorfor går vi ikke på restaurant?
Why don't we go to a restaurant?

What Does Not Count

The joining words (and), (but) and (or), and short replies like and , stand outside the sentence and do not take the first place.

Jeg er trøtt, men jeg vil ikke sove.
I am tired, but I don't want to sleep.
Nei, i dag er det andre dagen min.
No, today is my second day.

Verb First

Questions that can be answered with yes or no begin with the verb, and so do commands.

Sover du?
Are you sleeping?
Kom inn!
Come in!

In the course

Sentences from Lingora’s Norwegian course

44 of the course's 500 sentences use this, the first in lesson 1. A few of them, with the words “Word Order: The Verb in Second Place” is about in bold:

Hvordan har du det? Bra eller dårlig?
How are you feeling? Good or bad?
Lesson 61
Dere har to veldig vakre barn. Hvor gamle er de?
You have two very beautiful children. How old are they?
Lesson 264

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