Tom har kaffe.

Tom

Breakdown of Tom har kaffe.

• ha: to have

Questions & Answers about Tom har kaffe.

Why do we say Tom har kaffe and not Tom har kaffen?

Kaffen would be the definite form of the noun (meaning the coffee). In this sentence, we simply mean coffee in general, so we use the indefinite form kaffe.

Do I need an article before kaffe, like en or ei?

In many contexts, Norwegian doesn’t always use an indefinite article when talking about something in general. Saying Tom har en kaffe is less common and might suggest a single cup of coffee or a specific portion.

Is the word order in Tom har kaffe the typical Norwegian sentence structure?

Yes, it follows the standard Subject–Verb–Object pattern in Norwegian. Tom is the subject, har is the verb, and kaffe is the object.

Why do we use har here instead of another verb?

Har is the present tense of the verb å ha (meaning to have). It literally translates to has or have in English.

Does kaffe ever change form for plural?

Nouns generally take a plural form in Norwegian, but kaffe is often treated as a mass noun. You might see kaffer in some contexts (like types of coffee), but typically kaffe remains the same.