Ikke brenn papiret.

not

Breakdown of Ikke brenn papiret.

• papiret: the paper
• brenne: to burn

Questions & Answers about Ikke brenn papiret.

What kind of verb form is brenn?

Brenn is the imperative form of the verb å brenne (to burn).

The imperative is the form used for commands, instructions, and warnings:

• Brenn det. — burn it
• Ikke brenn det. — don’t burn it

In Bokmål, the imperative is often made by removing the infinitive ending from the verb:

• å snakke → snakk
• å skrive → skriv
• å brenne → brenn

So brenn means burn!

Why does the sentence start with ikke?

Because this is a negative command.

In Norwegian, when you tell someone not to do something, ikke normally comes before the imperative verb:

• Ikke brenn papiret.
• Ikke gå dit. — don’t go there
• Ikke rør den. — don’t touch it

This is the normal pattern for negative imperatives in Norwegian: Ikke + imperative + object

So English Don’t burn the paper becomes Norwegian Ikke brenn papiret.

Could I also say Brenn ikke papiret?