Dekningsgraden velges før uttaket av fedrekvoten.

It is a compound noun:

• dekning = coverage
• grad = degree, rate, level

Then -en is the definite singular ending, so dekningsgraden means the coverage rate / the benefit rate.

In this kind of official context, it often refers to the percentage level of parental benefit.

Because this is the passive form of the verb velge = to choose.

• velger = chooses / choose
• velges = is chosen / is being chosen

So Dekningsgraden velges means The coverage rate is chosen.

This -s passive is very common in Norwegian, especially in formal or official language.

Yes, in this sentence it works like English is chosen.

Compare:

• Man velger dekningsgraden. = One chooses the coverage rate.
• Dekningsgraden velges. = The coverage rate is chosen.

Norwegian often uses this short -s passive where English uses be + past participle.

This is a very common feature of formal Norwegian: it often uses nouns where English might prefer a verb.

• uttak = withdrawal, taking out, use
• uttaket = the withdrawal / the taking out

So før uttaket av fedrekvoten is literally something like before the taking out of the father’s quota.

A more everyday Norwegian version might be:

• før man tar ut fedrekvoten

That sounds less bureaucratic and more like normal spoken language.

Here av means of, not by.

• uttaket av fedrekvoten = the taking out of the father’s quota

So av fedrekvoten tells you what is being taken out.

In other contexts, av can also mean by, especially in passive sentences, but not here.

Because Norwegian usually writes compound nouns as one word.

• fedre
  • kvote = fedrekvote
• fedrekvoten = the father’s quota

This is very normal in Norwegian. English often writes these ideas as separate words, but Norwegian usually joins them together.

Formally, fedre is the plural form of far = father, but in this compound it does not mean several fathers in a literal way.

Fedrekvote is a fixed term meaning the father’s quota in the parental leave system.

So when you see fedre- in this word, think of it as part of the established compound, not as an ordinary plural you need to translate literally.

Because the sentence is talking about specific, known things.

In Norwegian, definiteness is often shown with an ending:

• dekningsgrad → dekningsgraden
• uttak → uttaket
• fedrekvote → fedrekvoten

This is especially common in legal, administrative, and official language, where the writer refers to specific categories or rights already understood from the context.

The sentence follows normal Norwegian main-clause word order:

• Dekningsgraden = subject
• velges = finite verb
• før uttaket av fedrekvoten = adverbial phrase

So the pattern is:

subject + verb + adverbial

This is very typical. Norwegian main clauses usually place the finite verb in the second position.

Yes. The original sentence sounds quite formal and administrative.

A more everyday version could be:

• Dekningsgraden må velges før man tar ut fedrekvoten.
• Du må velge dekningsgrad før du tar ut fedrekvoten.

These versions use a normal verb phrase instead of the noun uttaket, so they sound more natural in conversation. The original is still perfectly correct; it just sounds more official.