Vi går til biblioteket når vi vil lese nye bøker.

We go to the library when we want to read new books.

Breakdown of Vi går til biblioteket når vi vil lese nye bøker.

• bok: the book
• vi: we
• gå: to go
• til: to
• lese: to read
• bibliotek: the library
• når: when
• ny: new

Questions & Answers about Vi går til biblioteket når vi vil lese nye bøker.

Why is the noun written as biblioteket instead of just bibliotek?

In Norwegian, adding -et to bibliotek transforms it from the indefinite form (“a library”) into the definite form (“the library”). In this sentence, because we refer to a specific library that is familiar or known in context, the definite form biblioteket is used.

What role does the word når play in this sentence, and how does it differ from other similar conjunctions?

Når means when and is used to introduce a time-related subordinate clause. It specifies the condition or occasion under which the main action takes place. It differs from hvis, which means if, because når indicates a specific time or regular occurrence, not a hypothetical situation.

What does the modal verb vil express here, and how is it used with the following verb?

In the sentence, vil translates to want to. It indicates a desire or intention (“when we want to”). In Norwegian, modal verbs like vil are combined with the base form (or infinitive without å) of the main verb—in this case, lese (read)—to express the intended action.

What is the tense used for går and vil, and how does this tense affect the sentence’s meaning?

Both går (from å gå, meaning “to go”) and vil are in the present tense. This use of the present tense indicates habitual actions or current intentions—suggesting that “we go to the library” regularly, specifically when “we want to read new books.”

Why is the adjective nye used before bøker, and how does it agree with the noun?

The adjective nye means new in its plural form. In Norwegian, adjectives must agree in number (and sometimes gender) with the noun they modify. Since bøker (books) is plural, the plural form nye is correctly used.

Can you explain the overall sentence structure and how the main clause and subordinate clause work together?

The sentence is divided into two parts: the main clause (Vi går til biblioteket, “We go to the library”) and a subordinate clause introduced by når (når vi vil lese nye bøker, “when we want to read new books”). The main clause presents the action, and the subordinate clause provides the specific condition or timing for that action. This is a common construction in Norwegian where the time or condition is given after stating the primary action.

Is the construction vil lese directly comparable to the English phrase “want to read,” and is the infinitive always used in such cases?

Yes, vil lese directly corresponds to “want to read” in English. In Norwegian, when using modal verbs like vil, the following verb is kept in its basic infinitive form (often without the preceding å after the modal), which is a standard grammatical structure.