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Tom er irritert.

Tom er irritert.
Tom is irritated.
FromLesson 4inHardcore Norwegian
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Breakdown of Tom er irritert.

være
to be
Tom
Tom
irritert
irritated
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Questions & Answers about Tom er irritert.

What is the role of the word er in the sentence?
Er is the present-tense form of the verb å være (to be). It acts as a linking verb, connecting the subject (Tom) with the adjective (irritert) that describes his state.
Why is the adjective irritert not inflected or changed in form?
In Norwegian, adjectives used in a predicative position—after a linking verb like er—typically remain uninflected. If the adjective were used attributively (directly before a noun), it might change to agree with the noun’s gender, number, or definiteness. Here, since irritert follows er, no inflection is applied.
How does the sentence structure of Tom er irritert compare with its English equivalent?
The structure is very similar. In both Norwegian and English the sentence follows a subject–verb–adjective order: Tom (subject) er (linking verb, equivalent to "is") irritert (predicate adjective). This similarity makes it easier to see how both languages express a state of being.
Can the linking verb er be omitted in such descriptive sentences in Norwegian?
No, it cannot. In Norwegian, as in English, you need a linking verb to connect the subject to its descriptive adjective. Omitting er would make the sentence grammatically incorrect in Norwegian.
Would the adjective irritert ever change its form in a different context?
Yes, it can. When an adjective is used attributively (before a noun) rather than predicatively (after a linking verb), Norwegian adjectives often take on inflected forms to agree with the noun's gender, number, and definiteness. In Tom er irritert, the adjective remains uninflected because it’s used predicatively.