Tell plaggene for ikke å gå over maksgrensen.

Tell is the imperative form of the verb å telle (to count).

So:

• å telle = to count
• teller = count / am counting / counts
• telte = counted
• tell! = count!

In this sentence, Tell is a command or instruction, like English Count ...

Plaggene is the definite plural form of plagg.

The forms are:

• et plagg = a garment / an item of clothing
• plagget = the garment
• plagg = garments / items of clothing
• plaggene = the garments / the items of clothing

So plaggene means the garments or the clothing items.

For an English speaker, this is a good example of how Norwegian often puts the at the end of the noun instead of using a separate word.

Not quite.

• plagg usually means a garment or an item of clothing
• klær means clothes/clothing in a more general sense

So:

• Tell plaggene = count the individual clothing items
• Tell klærne could also work in some situations, but plaggene focuses more clearly on separate items

If you are counting shirts, trousers, socks, and so on as separate units, plagg is a very suitable word.

For ikke å means in order not to or so as not to.

It is made up of:

• for = for / in order to
• ikke = not
• å = the infinitive marker, like to in English
• followed by an infinitive verb

So the pattern is:

• for å + infinitive = in order to ...
• for ikke å + infinitive = in order not to ...

Examples:

• Jeg trener for å bli sterk. = I train in order to become strong.
• Jeg trener for ikke å bli svak. = I train in order not to become weak.

In your sentence, for ikke å gå over maksgrensen gives the purpose: count the garments so that you do not exceed the maximum limit.

Because after for, Norwegian normally uses an infinitive phrase, and infinitives need å.

So:

• for å gå = in order to go
• for ikke å gå = in order not to go

This is very similar to English:

• to go
• not to go

Notice the placement:

• Norwegian: ikke å gå
• English: not to go

So the not/ikke comes before the infinitive marker in both languages.

Here gå over means go over, exceed, or pass beyond a limit.

Literally:

• gå = go
• over = over

But together, in this kind of context, it means to exceed something measurable, such as:

• a maximum number
• a weight limit
• a spending limit

Examples:

• gå over budsjettet = go over the budget
• gå over fartsgrensen = go over the speed limit
• gå over maksgrensen = exceed the maximum limit

So this is a common everyday construction.

Because maksgrensen is the definite form: the maximum limit.

The forms are:

• en maksgrense = a maximum limit
• maksgrensen = the maximum limit

Norwegian often uses the definite form when referring to a specific known limit in the situation.

For example, if everyone already knows there is one relevant limit, Norwegian naturally says maksgrensen.

It is understandable, but depending on context, a native speaker might choose a slightly different wording.

Your sentence is structurally fine, but some speakers might prefer:

• Tell plaggene så du ikke går over maksgrensen.
• Tell plaggene for å unngå å gå over maksgrensen.
• Tell plaggene for ikke å overstige maksgrensen.

Why?

• så du ikke ... sounds a bit more everyday and direct
• unngå å = avoid ...
• overstige is a more formal verb meaning exceed

Still, for ikke å gå over maksgrensen is understandable and not wrong.

Yes, you may hear that, and many people do say it. But for ikke å gå over ... is usually the more standard and preferred placement.

So these are both understandable:

• for ikke å gå over maksgrensen
• for å ikke gå over maksgrensen

The first one is generally the safer choice for learners.

The sentence is built like this:

• Tell = imperative verb
• plaggene = direct object
• for ikke å gå over maksgrensen = purpose phrase

So the pattern is:

Command + object + purpose

That is very natural in Norwegian.

You can think of it as:

• Tell plaggene = Count the garments
• for ikke å gå over maksgrensen = in order not to exceed the maximum limit

This kind of structure is common after instructions.

The structure can definitely be used in other situations too. What is specific here is only plaggene.

You could replace the noun with something else:

• Tell posene for ikke å gå over maksgrensen. = Count the bags so as not to exceed the maximum limit.
• Tell delene for ikke å gå over maksgrensen. = Count the parts so as not to exceed the maximum limit.

So the grammar pattern is reusable:

Imperative + noun + for ikke å + infinitive

That makes it a useful sentence model for learners.