Trykknappen er ikke problemet. Tvert imot må knapphullet repareres.

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

• en trykknapp = a / an button

• trykknappen = the button

• et problem = a problem

• problemet = the problem

• et knapphull = a buttonhole
• knapphullet = the buttonhole

So Norwegian often says the button by changing the noun itself, not by adding a separate word before it.

Because problem is a neuter noun in Norwegian: et problem.

Neuter nouns usually take -et in the definite singular:

• et hus → huset
• et problem → problemet
• et knapphull → knapphullet

Masculine nouns usually take -en:

• en bil → bilen
• en trykknapp → trykknappen

So problemet is the correct definite form because problem is neuter.

That is the normal word order in a Norwegian main clause.

In simple main clauses, the negative word ikke usually comes after the finite verb:

• Han kommer ikke.
• Det er ikke sant.
• Trykknappen er ikke problemet.

So er is the finite verb, and ikke comes right after it.

Tvert imot means on the contrary or quite the opposite.

It is used to reject or reverse the idea just mentioned. Here, the first sentence says the button is not the problem, and tvert imot introduces the real issue:

• not the button
• on the contrary, the buttonhole needs repair

It is a useful fixed expression, and you should learn it as a whole phrase.

This is because Norwegian follows the V2 rule in main clauses: the finite verb must come in the second position.

Here, Tvert imot is placed first. That means the finite verb må must come next:

• Tvert imot
  • må
    • knapphullet
      • repareres

So the subject knapphullet comes after the verb. This kind of inversion is very common in Norwegian when something other than the subject is placed first.

Compare:

• Knapphullet må repareres.
• Tvert imot må knapphullet repareres.

Both are correct; the second one just starts with tvert imot for emphasis.

Må often means must or have to, but in English this sentence may sound more natural as needs to:

• må repareres = must be repaired
• natural English meaning: needs to be repaired

So yes, må is a strong necessity word. It is stronger than should.

Here, repareres is a passive form of reparere.

The active verb is:

• å reparere = to repair

The passive -s form is:

• repareres = be repaired / is repaired

After a modal verb like må, it means:

• må repareres = must be repaired

So the sentence does not say who will repair it; it focuses on the fact that the buttonhole needs repair.

Yes. Both are possible:

• Knapphullet må repareres
• Knapphullet må bli reparert

Both mean the buttonhole must be repaired.

Very roughly:

• må repareres is compact and common
• må bli reparert can sound a little more explicit or slightly more spoken in some contexts

For learners, it is good to recognize both patterns.

Because Norwegian very often forms compound nouns by writing them as a single word.

• trykknapp = tryk(k) + knapp
• knapphull = knapp + hull

This is much more common in Norwegian than in English. English may write similar ideas as two words or with a hyphen, but Norwegian usually prefers one word.

This is an important habit to get used to, because compounds are everywhere in Norwegian.

Because the sentence is identifying the specific issue, not just saying it is one problem among many.

• ikke problemet = not the problem
• ikke et problem = not a problem

These are different ideas.

So:

• Trykknappen er ikke problemet = the button is not the actual issue we are talking about

That is why the definite form problemet is used.