Årsmøtet kontrollerer ikke bare vedtektene, men også fordelingsnøkkelen.

Norwegian very often makes compound nouns as a single word, so årsmøte is one word, not two. It is made up of:

• år = year
• møte = meeting

So årsmøte means annual meeting.

The ending -et makes it definite singular for a neuter noun:

• et årsmøte = an annual meeting
• årsmøtet = the annual meeting

So Årsmøtet means the annual meeting.

This is normal Norwegian main-clause word order: the finite verb usually comes in second position.

Here the sentence begins with the subject:

• Årsmøtet = subject
• kontrollerer = finite verb

So the basic structure is:

• Årsmøtet kontrollerer ...
• The annual meeting checks/controls ...

This is standard Norwegian word order.

Not always. Kontrollere can sometimes look like English control, but in many contexts it means more like:

• check
• inspect
• verify
• monitor
• sometimes review

So in a sentence like this, kontrollerer may sound more natural in English as checks or reviews, depending on context, rather than strictly controls.

Grammar-wise, kontrollerer is the present tense form:

• å kontrollere = to check / control
• kontrollerer = checks / is checking / does check

In ordinary Norwegian main clauses, ikke usually comes after the finite verb.

So:

• Årsmøtet kontrollerer ikke ...

This is the normal pattern.

English often places not with an auxiliary verb, but Norwegian does not need an auxiliary here. It simply uses:

• subject + finite verb + ikke

That is why you get kontrollerer ikke, not ikke kontrollerer.

This is a very common structure meaning not only ... but also ...

In your sentence:

• ikke bare vedtektene, men også fordelingsnøkkelen

This means that the annual meeting does one thing to both items:

• not only the bylaws
• but also the allocation/distribution key

It is a fixed contrast structure, and the two parts should be parallel. Here both parts are noun phrases:

• vedtektene
• fordelingsnøkkelen

That makes the sentence balanced and natural.

Vedtekter is the indefinite plural form, while vedtektene is the definite plural form.

• vedtekter = bylaws / statutes
• vedtektene = the bylaws / the articles

In this sentence, the speaker is referring to a specific set of bylaws, so the definite form is used.

A quick pattern:

• en vedtekt = a bylaw / statute
• vedtekter = bylaws
• vedtektene = the bylaws

For the same basic reason: it refers to a specific, known thing.

• en fordelingsnøkkel = an allocation key / distribution formula
• fordelingsnøkkelen = the allocation key / the distribution formula

In organizational, legal, or financial contexts, fordelingsnøkkel often means the rule or formula used to divide something, such as costs, votes, funds, or responsibilities.

So the sentence is talking about a particular allocation formula, not just any one.

It is a compound noun, which is extremely common in Norwegian.

It is built from:

• fordeling = distribution / allocation
• nøkkel = key

Together, fordelingsnøkkel literally looks like distribution key, but in practice it means something like:

• allocation key
• distribution key
• apportionment formula
• basis for allocation

The final -en makes it definite singular:

• en fordelingsnøkkel
• fordelingsnøkkelen

Because modern Norwegian does not use case endings on nouns the way German does, and certainly not the way older Norwegian once did.

After kontrollerer, the nouns are direct objects, but they stay in their normal forms:

• vedtektene
• fordelingsnøkkelen

So unlike in some other languages, you do not have to learn special accusative noun endings here. Word order does most of the work.

It is plural definite.

The singular form is:

• en vedtekt = a bylaw / statute

The plural forms are:

• vedtekter = bylaws
• vedtektene = the bylaws

Many learners notice that vedtekt is not a very everyday word at first, but it is common in formal contexts such as:

• organizations
• associations
• companies
• clubs
• legal documents

Yes. In many real-life contexts, especially for clubs, associations, companies, or housing organizations, årsmøtet is often best translated more specifically as:

• the annual general meeting
• the AGM

The exact English translation depends on the organization and the style of the text. Grammatically, though, the Norwegian word is still simply the annual meeting.

A few things often stand out to English speakers:

• Å in Årsmøtet is pronounced like a broad aw/o sound, not like English a.
• ø in møtet and nøkkelen is the front rounded vowel that English does not really have.
• Compound words like fordelingsnøkkelen are usually spoken as one word, with the main stress typically falling early in the compound.

You do not need perfect pronunciation right away, but å, ø, and Norwegian compound rhythm are worth practicing early.

Yes, but changes in word order must still follow Norwegian main-clause rules.

For example, if you fronted another element, the verb would still have to stay in second position. But the version you have is the most neutral and straightforward:

• Årsmøtet kontrollerer ikke bare vedtektene, men også fordelingsnøkkelen.

That is a clear, standard way to say:

• the annual meeting checks not only the bylaws, but also the allocation key

So while alternative phrasing is possible, this version is already very natural.