Learn Hardcore Norwegian: Tror du at solen skinner i morgen? - Do you think that the sun shines tomorrow?

It translates as “Do you think that the sun is shining tomorrow?” or “Do you think the sun will shine tomorrow?” The sentence is asking for someone's opinion about the weather the following day.

How is the sentence structured as a question in Norwegian?

The sentence uses a typical yes/no question structure in Norwegian. The main clause “Tror du” (literally “think you”) comes first, followed by the subordinate clause “at solen skinner i morgen” (“that the sun shines tomorrow”). In Norwegian, especially for yes/no questions, the word order in the main clause can mirror that of a statement, with the verb often placed before the subject.

Why is the conjunction “at” used in the sentence?

The word “at” functions as a conjunction similar to the English “that.” It introduces the subordinate clause “solen skinner i morgen.” Although in casual speech it might sometimes be dropped, including “at” makes the sentence clearer by marking the boundary between the main clause and the dependent clause.

Why is the word “solen” used instead of “sol”?

“Solen” is the definite form of “sol” (sun) in Norwegian. Instead of using a separate definite article as in English (“the sun”), Norwegian typically adds a suffix to the noun to indicate definiteness. Thus, “solen” means “the sun.”

How does the expression “i morgen” function in this sentence?

The phrase “i morgen” means “tomorrow.” It is a time expression indicating when the action (the sun shining) is expected to occur. Despite its literal components “in” and “morning,” it is used as a single adverbial phrase to denote the day after today.