Breakdown of For den saks skyld kan vi velge utvidelsen.
Questions & Answers about For den saks skyld kan vi velge utvidelsen.
For den saks skyld is an idiomatic expression. In English, it often corresponds to for that matter, as far as that is concerned, or sometimes for that sake depending on context.
In this sentence, it has a slightly loose, conversational feel: it adds something like if we’re talking about that anyway, or for that matter.
So the phrase is not meant to be understood too literally word by word in normal use. It functions as a set expression.
It is mostly best learned as a fixed expression.
That said, the parts are still recognizable:
- for = for
- den = that/the
- saks = genitive form of sak (matter, case, issue)
- skyld = sake, reason
Historically and grammatically, it is something like for that matter’s sake, but in modern usage, learners should mainly treat it as an idiom.
Because saks is the genitive form of sak.
- en sak = a matter / a case / an issue
- sakens can also occur in some expressions, but here the fixed phrase is for den saks skyld
In this expression, the -s works much like the English possessive ’s in older or more literal phrasing. Even though modern Norwegian does not use the genitive very widely in everyday speech, it survives in set phrases like this one.