Dere kan ringe oss snart, for vi har et møte.

You (plural) can call us soon, because we have a meeting.

Breakdown of Dere kan ringe oss snart, for vi har et møte.

• ha: to have
• vi: we
• et: a
• kunne: can
• ringe: to call
• dere: you
• oss: us
• snart: soon
• møte: the meeting

Questions & Answers about Dere kan ringe oss snart, for vi har et møte.

What does Dere mean and how is it used in this sentence?

Dere translates to "you" in English but is specifically the plural form. It’s used when addressing more than one person, much like saying "you all". This distinguishes it from du, which is used for a single person.

How is the modal construction kan ringe functioning in the sentence?

In this sentence, kan is a modal verb meaning "can" which indicates ability or permission. It is directly followed by the infinitive ringe, meaning "to call". Together, kan ringe expresses that the addressee has the ability to call, making the first part of the sentence translate as "You can call us soon."

What does snart mean and how does it fit into the sentence?

Snart is an adverb that means "soon." It specifies when the action of calling is expected to occur, adding a time element to the instruction.

What role does for play in this sentence, and why is there a comma before it?

For functions as a conjunction meaning "because." It introduces a clause that explains the reason behind the instruction — namely, that "we have a meeting". The comma before for is used to separate the main clause from the explanatory clause, similar to how commas are employed in English to link independent clauses while providing additional information.

Why is the noun møte preceded by the article et?

In Norwegian, nouns often require an article. Møte is a neuter noun, and et is its corresponding indefinite article, equivalent to "a" in English. Thus, et møte means "a meeting."

What verb tenses are used in this sentence, and how do they affect its meaning?

Both verbs in the sentence are in the present tense. Kan (from å kunne) is in the present form, indicating current ability, and har (from å ha) is also in the present form, denoting possession or a current state. This present-tense usage makes the instruction immediate and relevant.