Benkeforslaget kan godkjennes, gitt at flertallet støtter det.

Benkeforslaget is a compound noun, which is very common in Norwegian.

It is made up of:

• benk = bench
• forslag = proposal
• -et = the definite ending

In political or meeting language, benkeforslag usually means a proposal made directly during the meeting, often “from the floor,” rather than submitted in advance.

So:

• et benkeforslag = a floor proposal / a proposal made during the meeting
• benkeforslaget = the floor proposal

Norwegian often joins nouns together into one word where English would use several words.

Because benkeforslaget is the definite form: the proposal rather than a proposal.

Compare:

• et benkeforslag = a floor proposal
• benkeforslaget = the floor proposal

The sentence is talking about a specific proposal that is already known in context, so the definite form is used.

Kan godkjennes means can be approved.

It contains:

• kan = can / may
• godkjennes = be approved

So this is a passive meaning: the proposal is something that can receive approval.

A natural English translation is:

• can be approved
• sometimes also may be approved, depending on context

Because godkjennes is a passive form.

The verb is:

• å godkjenne = to approve

Active:

• Flertallet godkjenner forslaget. = The majority approves the proposal.

Passive:

• Forslaget godkjennes. = The proposal is approved.
• Forslaget kan godkjennes. = The proposal can be approved.

In Norwegian, one common way to make the passive is by adding -s to the verb, especially in formal or written language.

So:

• godkjenne = approve
• godkjennes = be approved / is approved

In this sentence, it functions as an infinitive passive after kan.

After modal verbs like kan, skal, må, and vil, Norwegian normally uses the infinitive without å.

So:

• kan godkjenne = can approve
• kan godkjennes = can be approved

Even though -s passive forms can sometimes look like present-tense forms, here the structure after kan tells you it is the infinitive passive.

Gitt at means given that, provided that, or on condition that.

In this sentence, it introduces a condition:

• Benkeforslaget kan godkjennes, gitt at flertallet støtter det.
• The proposal can be approved, provided that the majority supports it.

This expression is somewhat formal. In everyday Norwegian, you might also see:

• hvis = if
• dersom = if
• forutsatt at = provided that

Because gitt at works together as a fixed expression meaning given that / provided that.

You should learn it as a unit:

• gitt at ...

Other conjunction-like expressions in Norwegian also use at, for example:

• forutsatt at = provided that
• slik at = so that

So at is not optional here in standard usage.

Flertallet means the majority.

The base noun is:

• et flertall = a majority

The definite form is:

• flertallet = the majority

The -et ending is the definite singular ending for many neuter nouns.

So:

• et flertall
• flertallet

Because støtter is the present tense form of the verb.

The verb is:

• å støtte = to support

Present tense:

• støtter = support / supports

Here the subject is flertallet (the majority), so:

• flertallet støtter det = the majority supports it

Compare:

• å støtte = to support
• flertallet støtter det = the majority supports it

Det refers back to benkeforslaget.

So:

• flertallet støtter det = the majority supports it
• and it = the floor proposal

Norwegian often uses det to refer to nouns that in English might be translated as it.

Because forslag is a neuter noun:

• et forslag = a proposal

Neuter nouns typically take the pronoun det.

So:

• et forslag
• forslaget
• det = it

Even though benkeforslaget is a compound noun, the grammatical gender comes from the final part, forslag, which is neuter.

Yes. A simpler version would be:

• Benkeforslaget kan godkjennes hvis flertallet støtter det.

This means almost the same thing: The proposal can be approved if the majority supports it.

The difference is mostly in tone:

• hvis = more neutral and common
• gitt at = more formal, a bit more like provided that

The comma separates the main statement from the following condition.

Main clause:

• Benkeforslaget kan godkjennes

Conditional phrase/clause:

• gitt at flertallet støtter det

In Norwegian, commas are often used to make sentence structure clearer, especially in formal writing. Even if punctuation rules can vary a little by style, the comma here is natural and helps show that the second part adds a condition.

Yes, it sounds fairly formal, especially because of:

• benkeforslaget — specialized meeting/political vocabulary
• godkjennes — passive form, common in formal writing
• gitt at — a formal conditional expression

A more everyday version might be:

• Benkeforslaget kan bli godkjent hvis flertallet støtter det.

That means essentially the same thing, but sounds a bit less formal and more conversational.

The structure is:

• Subject: Benkeforslaget
• Modal verb: kan
• Passive infinitive: godkjennes
• Conditional clause: gitt at flertallet støtter det

So literally:

• The floor proposal
  • can
    • be approved, + provided that the majority supports it

This is a useful pattern in Norwegian:

• [subject] kan [passive verb], gitt at [condition]

For example:

• Planen kan gjennomføres, gitt at alle er enige.
• The plan can be carried out, provided that everyone agrees.