Jeg tror at leiligheten er viktig for dem fordi de trenger plass.

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Breakdown of Jeg tror at leiligheten er viktig for dem fordi de trenger plass.

• være: to be
• trenge: to need
• fordi: because
• de: they
• viktig: important
• at: that
• tro: to believe
• leilighet: the apartment
• for: for
• dem: them
• plass: the space

Questions & Answers about Jeg tror at leiligheten er viktig for dem fordi de trenger plass.

Why is the conjunction at used after tror in this sentence?

In Norwegian, verbs like tror (meaning "believe" or "think") are typically followed by a subordinate clause introduced by at—the equivalent of the English word "that." This conjunction connects the main clause to the statement you're believing, making the sentence structure clear.

Why is leiligheten written with an -en ending instead of using a separate article like "the"?

Norwegian frequently indicates definiteness by adding a suffix to the noun. In this case, leilighet (apartment) becomes leiligheten to mean "the apartment." This suffix system serves the same function as a separate definite article in English.

Why does the sentence include both dem and de, and how do I know which one to use?

The choice between dem and de depends on the grammatical role each plays. In viktig for dem, dem is an object pronoun used after the preposition for. Later, in fordi de trenger plass, de serves as the subject pronoun for the clause "they need space." This distinction is similar to the difference between "them" (object) and "they" (subject) in English.

How are the subordinate clauses structured within this sentence?

The sentence contains a nested clause structure. The first subordinate clause is introduced by at, following Jeg tror, which expresses what is believed. Within that clause, fordi introduces a second subordinate clause that explains the reason behind the apartment’s importance. This layering of clauses allows the sentence to convey both belief and reasoning in one fluid expression.

Is it acceptable to omit at after Jeg tror in informal settings?

In informal spoken Norwegian, some speakers may drop at without causing confusion. However, in written or more formal Norwegian, including at is recommended for clarity and to follow standard grammatical conventions.

Why is plass used without an article in de trenger plass?

In this context, plass refers to space in a general, abstract sense. Norwegian, like English when using terms such as "need space," often omits the indefinite article when speaking generally about concepts that are not countable or specific.