Questions & Answers about Det var en vanvittig plan.
What does det mean here? Is it it or that?
In this sentence, det can often be understood as it or that, depending on context.
- Det var en vanvittig plan. = It was an insane plan.
- In natural English, you might also translate it as That was an insane plan if you are referring back to something already mentioned.
Norwegian uses det very often in places where English uses it, that, or even a more general subject.
Why is it var and not er?
Var is the past tense of å være (to be).
- er = is / am / are
- var = was / were
So:
- Det er en vanvittig plan. = It is an insane plan.
- Det var en vanvittig plan. = It was an insane plan.
Why is there an en before plan?
Because plan is a common-gender noun in Norwegian, and in the singular indefinite it takes en.
- en plan = a plan
- planen = the plan
So the structure is:
- en vanvittig plan = an insane plan
This is similar to English a/an, but in Norwegian the article also shows the grammatical gender of the noun.