Hun smiler kjærlig.

She smiles affectionately.

Breakdown of Hun smiler kjærlig.

• hun: she
• smile: to smile
• kjærlig: affectionately; lovingly

Questions & Answers about Hun smiler kjærlig.

Why is it smiler and not smile?

Because smiler is the present tense of the verb å smile (to smile).

• å smile = to smile
• smiler = smiles / is smiling

In Norwegian, the present tense often ends in -r.

Examples:

• Jeg smiler = I smile / I am smiling
• Hun smiler = She smiles / She is smiling

Unlike English, Norwegian does not usually need a separate form like is smiling here. The present tense can cover both meanings depending on context.

What part of speech is kjærlig in this sentence?

Here, kjærlig is an adverb. It describes how she smiles.

So in:

• Hun smiler kjærlig

the word kjærlig tells us the manner of the action: she smiles lovingly / affectionately / tenderly.

Even though kjærlig can also be an adjective in other contexts, in this sentence it functions adverbially.

Compare:

• et kjærlig blikk = a loving look (adjective)
• Hun smiler kjærlig = She smiles lovingly (adverb-like use)

Why doesn’t kjærlig change form when it describes the verb?