Hjelp meg med å vaske dette bordet, for det er skittent.

to be

Breakdown of Hjelp meg med å vaske dette bordet, for det er skittent.

• å: to
• med: with
• det: it
• dette: this
• meg: me
• hjelpe: to help
• vaske: to wash
• bord: the table
• skitten: dirty

Questions & Answers about Hjelp meg med å vaske dette bordet, for det er skittent.

Why is the preposition med used in the phrase "hjelp meg med å vaske dette bordet"?

In Norwegian, when asking for help with an action, it is common to use the structure "hjelp meg med ...". The preposition med means "with" and introduces the specific task—in this case, å vaske (to wash). This construction signals that assistance is needed to perform the action.

What is the purpose of the infinitive marker å in "å vaske"?

The marker å indicates that the verb is in its infinitive (base) form, similar to the English "to" in "to wash." In Norwegian, it is standard to include å before the verb when using the infinitive, unless the construction calls for a different form.

Why is bordet used instead of just bord?

In Norwegian, the definite article is attached to the noun as a suffix. Bord means "table," and when made definite it becomes bordet, which translates to "the table." This is why the sentence uses "dette bordet" to specifically refer to "this table."

What role does the demonstrative dette play in "dette bordet"?

The word dette is a demonstrative adjective that means "this." It specifies which table is being talked about. In Norwegian, when you use a demonstrative like dette with a noun, the noun takes its definite form—in this case, bordet—to clearly denote a specific object.

How does the conjunction for function in the sentence?

The conjunction for serves to provide a reason—it translates to "because" in this context. The clause "for det er skittent" explains why help is needed by stating that the table is dirty. Unlike the subordinating fordi, for is a coordinating conjunction that links two independent clauses.

Is there any significance to the comma placed before for in the sentence?

Yes, the comma separates the two main parts of the sentence. It distinguishes the request "Hjelp meg med å vaske dette bordet" from the explanatory clause "for det er skittent." The punctuation helps clarify that the second clause provides the reason behind the request.