Breakdown of Når det gjelder fellesperioden, kan den deles.
dele
to share
kan
can
den
that
fellesperioden
the shared period
Questions & Answers about Når det gjelder fellesperioden, kan den deles.
What does Når det gjelder mean, and is it a literal when?
Når det gjelder is a very common expression meaning when it comes to, regarding, or as for.
Even though når often means when, here the whole phrase is not really about time. It introduces a topic.
So in this sentence, Når det gjelder fellesperioden means something like:
- As for the common period
- When it comes to the common period
- Regarding the common period
It is best learned as a set phrase.
Why is there a comma after fellesperioden?
The comma separates the introductory part from the main clause.
In Norwegian, when a subordinate or introductory clause comes first, it is normally followed by a comma. Here, Når det gjelder fellesperioden sets up the topic, and then the main statement comes after it:
- Når det gjelder fellesperioden, = introductory/topic-setting part
- kan den deles = main clause
So the comma is standard and helps show the structure of the sentence.
Why is kan placed before den? Why not den kan deles here?