Breakdown of Vennen kondolerer skriftlig.
vennen
the friend
skriftlig
in writing
kondolere
to offer condolences
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Questions & Answers about Vennen kondolerer skriftlig.
Where is the word the in vennen?
It is built into the noun itself.
- venn = friend
- vennen = the friend
In Norwegian, the definite article is often added as a suffix instead of being a separate word. So English the friend becomes vennen.
Why is it vennen and not en venn?
Because vennen refers to a specific friend, one that is already known from the context.
- en venn = a friend
- vennen = the friend
So this sentence is not talking about just any friend, but about a particular one.
What tense is kondolerer?
Kondolerer is present tense.
The infinitive is å kondolere = to offer condolences.
The present tense is formed as:
- å kondolere → kondolerer
Norwegian present tense does not change for different persons:
- jeg kondolerer
- du kondolerer
- han/hun kondolerer
So here it means something like offers condolences or is offering condolences, depending on context.
What exactly does kondolere mean, and does it sound formal?