Questions & Answers about Jeg drikker fortsatt kaffe.
What does the fortsatt in the sentence mean?
Fortsatt translates to still in English. It emphasizes that the action—drinking coffee—has continued over time or has not changed despite expectations or circumstances.
Why is fortsatt placed after drikker instead of before the subject or at the beginning of the sentence?
In Norwegian, the typical word order for declarative sentences is subject-verb-adverb-object. Fortsatt is an adverb modifying the verb drikker, so it naturally follows the finite verb. This placement clearly indicates that the continuing nature applies directly to the action of drinking.
What tense is used in "Jeg drikker fortsatt kaffe," and how does it compare to English?
The sentence uses the present tense, as seen in drikker. In Norwegian, the present tense is used both for habitual actions and for actions that are currently ongoing. While English sometimes uses the present continuous ("I am still drinking coffee") to emphasize ongoing activity, Norwegian relies on context and adverbs like fortsatt to convey that meaning with the simple present.
Why is there no article (such as en or ei) before kaffe in the sentence?
In Norwegian, kaffe is treated as an uncountable noun when referring to the substance in a general or habitual sense—similar to coffee in English. Because it is used in a general, non-specific way, there’s no need for an article here.