Questions & Answers about Vi kjøper vann samt mat.
What does vi mean, and when is it used?
Vi means we.
It is the subject pronoun used when the speaker is talking about themself together with one or more other people.
Examples:
- Vi kjøper vann. = We buy water.
- Vi bor i Norge. = We live in Norway.
Why is it kjøper and not kjøpe?
Kjøper is the present tense form of the verb å kjøpe (to buy).
So:
- å kjøpe = to buy
- kjøper = buy / am buying / are buying / is buying
In Norwegian, the present tense form is the same for all subjects:
- jeg kjøper = I buy
- du kjøper = you buy
- vi kjøper = we buy
That is simpler than English, where the verb changes in some cases, such as he buys.
What does samt mean here?
Samt means and, as well as, or along with.
In this sentence, it links vann and mat:
- vann samt mat = water as well as food
A very important point: samt is usually a bit more formal or written than og.
So:
- Vi kjøper vann og mat. = more everyday, common
- Vi kjøper vann samt mat. = correct, but slightly more formal or stiff