Vi kontrollerer varene.

Vi means we.

Yes, in a normal Norwegian sentence, you usually need to include the subject, just like in English. So Vi kontrollerer varene is literally We check/inspect the goods.

Norwegian normally does not drop the subject the way some other languages can.

Kontrollere is the infinitive form, meaning to check / to inspect / to control.

Kontrollerer is the present tense form:

• å kontrollere = to check
• kontrollerer = check / checks / am checking / are checking / is checking, depending on context

So:

• Vi kontrollere varene = incorrect
• Vi kontrollerer varene = correct

A very common pattern in Bokmål is that many verbs end in -er in the present tense.

Not always. This is an important vocabulary point.

In Norwegian, kontrollere often means:

• check
• inspect
• verify
• examine

So in Vi kontrollerer varene, the most natural meaning is often We are checking/inspecting the goods, not necessarily We control the goods.

This is a case where the word looks similar to English but is not always used in exactly the same way.

Because varene is the definite plural form of vare.

Here is the pattern:

• en vare = a product / an item / a good
• varer = products / items / goods
• varene = the products / the items / the goods

In Norwegian, the definite article is often attached to the end of the noun instead of being a separate word like the in English.

So varene literally means the goods.

Because Norwegian usually puts definiteness on the noun itself.

Compare:

• English: the goods
• Norwegian: varene

The ending -ne already includes the meaning of the for a plural noun.

So you do not say de varene here unless you specifically mean something like those goods or those particular goods, depending on context.

The word order is:

Subject + Verb + Object

• Vi = subject
• kontrollerer = verb
• varene = object

So it matches normal English word order quite closely:

• We check the goods

This makes the sentence straightforward for English speakers.

Yes.

Norwegian present tense often covers both:

• We check the goods
• We are checking the goods

Which meaning is intended depends on context.

For example:

• Hver morgen kontrollerer vi varene. = Every morning we check the goods.
• Vent litt, vi kontrollerer varene nå. = Wait a moment, we’re checking the goods now.

Norwegian does not need a separate form like English are checking in many everyday sentences.

No. In Norwegian, the present tense verb is the same for all persons.

For example:

• Jeg kontrollerer = I check
• Du kontrollerer = you check
• Han kontrollerer = he checks
• Vi kontrollerer = we check
• De kontrollerer = they check

This is simpler than English, because you do not need different present-tense forms like check and checks.

The singular forms are:

• en vare = a product / an item / a good
• varen = the product / the item / the good

Then the plural forms are:

• varer = products / goods
• varene = the products / the goods

So varene is the plural definite form of vare.

A simple learner-friendly approximation is:

kon-tro-LE-rer

A few useful points:

• the r sounds are Norwegian r sounds, which vary by region
• the o is not exactly like English o
• the stress is typically on the -le- / -ler- part

If you are a beginner, the most important thing is to say it clearly in syllables and not pronounce it exactly like English controller or control.

This sentence is standard Bokmål.

In Nynorsk, you would more likely see:

• Vi kontrollerer varene in some contexts, but often other vocabulary or forms may be preferred depending on style
• for example, some speakers might choose a different verb such as sjekkar if they want a more everyday equivalent of check

For a learner, Vi kontrollerer varene is perfectly normal Bokmål.