Jeg drikker kaffe før jeg spiser brød.

I drink coffee before I eat bread.

Breakdown of Jeg drikker kaffe før jeg spiser brød.

• jeg: I
• spise: to eat
• brød: the bread
• drikke: to drink
• før: before
• kaffe: the coffee

Questions & Answers about Jeg drikker kaffe før jeg spiser brød.

What is the function of the word før in this sentence?

The word før is a temporal conjunction meaning "before." It connects the two clauses by showing that the action of drinking coffee happens prior to the action of eating bread.

Why is the subject jeg repeated in both parts of the sentence?

Norwegian typically includes the subject in each clause, even when the subject is the same. Repeating jeg in both clauses clarifies that each action—drinking coffee and eating bread—is performed by I.

Why are the verbs drikker and spiser both in the present tense?

Both verbs are in the present tense because the sentence describes actions as a general or habitual fact. In Norwegian, the present tense form remains the same regardless of the subject, so drikker (drink) and spiser (eat) correctly reflect ongoing or regular actions.

Why is brød used without an article in this sentence?

In Norwegian, brød (bread) often functions as an uncountable noun when referring to the substance in general. Just like in English, where we say “I eat bread” rather than “I eat a bread,” Norwegian omits the article when speaking of bread in a general sense.

Could this sentence be structured differently without changing its meaning?

Yes, the sentence can be restructured. For example, you might say, "Før jeg spiser brød, drikker jeg kaffe," which places the time clause at the beginning. Both versions are grammatically correct, though the emphasis shifts slightly depending on the order.

Are there any specific punctuation rules to be aware of with this type of sentence, especially around før?

Norwegian punctuation rules regarding commas can be more flexible than in English. In a simple sentence like this one, it is common (and acceptable) to omit a comma before før because the subordinate clause is short and the meaning is clear. However, some writers might choose to include a comma for clarity, depending on style guides.

How should kaffe and brød be pronounced?

While actual pronunciation can vary with dialect, a general guide is that kaffe sounds roughly like “kah-feh” with emphasis on the first syllable. Brød includes the vowel ø, which doesn’t exist in English; it resembles the German ö and sounds somewhat like “bruhd” with a rounded vowel sound.