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Hun omgås naboene.

Hun omgås naboene.
She socialises with the neighbours.
From Lesson 85:Comparing mortgage offers·Hardcore Norwegian

Questions & Answers about Hun omgås naboene.

What does omgås mean exactly in this sentence?
Å omgås means to socialize with, associate with, or spend time with someone. It usually suggests some ongoing social contact, not just a single meeting. So this sentence implies that she has some regular or friendly contact with the neighbors.
What is the dictionary form of omgås?

The dictionary form is å omgås. In this sentence, omgås is the present tense form.

A useful thing to know is that many Norwegian verbs ending in -s have the same form in the infinitive and the present tense.

Why doesn’t the verb end in -r in the present tense?

Because omgås belongs to a group often called s-verbs. With these verbs, the present tense is usually not formed with an extra -r.

So you get:

  • å omgås = to socialize / associate
  • hun omgås = she socializes / associates

That is normal Norwegian grammar for this kind of verb.

Is the -s ending passive here?

No. Here, -s is just part of the verb omgås.

It is true that Norwegian -s can sometimes be used for the passive, but that is not what is happening in this sentence. Hun omgås naboene has an active meaning: she is the one having social contact with the neighbors.

Why is there no word for with, like med?

Because Norwegian often uses å omgås noen directly, without a preposition.

English says:

  • socialize with the neighbors

But Norwegian can say:

  • omgås naboene

So even though English uses with, Norwegian does not need med here.

Why is it naboene instead of naboer?

Because naboene is the definite plural form, meaning the neighbors.

Compare:

  • naboer = neighbors
  • naboene = the neighbors

So the ending -ene shows both plural and definite.

Why is there no separate word for the?

In Norwegian, definiteness is often shown by an ending on the noun instead of a separate article.

So:

  • the neighbor = naboen
  • the neighbors = naboene

That is why Norwegian does not need a separate word like English the in this sentence.

Could I also say Hun omgås naboer?

Yes, but the meaning changes.

  • Hun omgås naboene = she socializes with the neighbors, meaning specific neighbors
  • Hun omgås naboer = she socializes with neighbors in general

So the version with -ene sounds more specific.

What is the word order in this sentence?

It follows the normal pattern:

subject + verb + object

  • Hun = subject
  • omgås = verb
  • naboene = object

So it is a straightforward main clause.

Is omgås a natural everyday word?

Yes, it is a normal and natural verb. It can sound a little more neutral or slightly more formal than very everyday expressions like være sammen med, but it is still completely natural here.

So Hun omgås naboene sounds like good, normal Norwegian.

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