Jeg står opp før jeg drikker kaffe.

I get up before I drink coffee.

Breakdown of Jeg står opp før jeg drikker kaffe.

• jeg: I
• drikke: to drink
• før: before
• stå opp: to get up
• kaffe: the coffee

Questions & Answers about Jeg står opp før jeg drikker kaffe.

What does står opp mean, and why is it considered a separable verb in Norwegian?

Står opp translates to “get up” in English. It’s an example of a separable verb in Norwegian—meaning that the main verb (stå) and its particle (opp) form a compound expression. In many situations, especially in main clauses with additional elements, the particle can be separated and placed later in the sentence. In this simple sentence, however, the two parts stay together.

What tense are the verbs står and drikker, and how do they contribute to the sentence’s meaning?

Both står and drikker are in the present tense. Står is the present form of å stå (to stand/get up), and drikker is the present form of å drikke (to drink). Their use in the present tense indicates that these actions are either habitual or happening right now, which fits with the everyday routine described in the sentence.

What role does the word før play in this sentence?

Før functions as a subordinating conjunction that means “before.” It introduces a time clause that tells us about the order of events: the action of getting up happens prior to the action of drinking coffee.

Why doesn’t the subordinate clause før jeg drikker kaffe exhibit inversion, such as før drikker jeg kaffe?

In Norwegian subordinate clauses introduced by conjunctions like før, the standard word order is maintained—subject followed by verb. Unlike main clauses, where inversion might occur after certain adverbs or elements, subordinate clauses keep the subject in its usual position. That’s why it remains jeg drikker kaffe.

Why is no comma used before før in this sentence?

Norwegian punctuation rules often omit a comma before a subordinate clause that follows the main clause, especially when the clause is short and directly tied to the main idea. In this sentence, the flow is clear without a comma, so no punctuation is added before før.