Learn Hardcore Norwegian: De sier at grønnsaker er friske der, og jeg vil kjøpe poteter. - They say that vegetables are fresh there, and I want to buy potatoes.

It introduces a subordinate clause that reports what somebody said. In Norwegian, at works much like the English word that, marking the beginning of a reported statement.

Why is the adjective friske used with grønnsaker instead of frisk?

Norwegian adjectives agree with the noun in number and gender. Since grønnsaker (vegetables) is plural, the adjective takes the plural form friske (fresh).

Why is there no article before poteter in the phrase kjøpe poteter?

In Norwegian, plural nouns used in a general sense often appear without an article. Here, poteter (potatoes) is meant in a general way, so no article is necessary unless you’re referring to a specific set of potatoes.

What does the adverb der mean, and how is it used in this sentence?

Der means there and functions as an adverb indicating the location where the vegetables are said to be fresh. Its use assumes that the location is understood in the context of the conversation.

How is the sentence structured with its different clauses, and what role does og play?

The sentence is divided into two parts: a subordinate clause introduced by at (“grønnsaker er friske der”) and an independent main clause (“jeg vil kjøpe poteter”). The conjunction og (meaning and) links these two clauses to create one fluid sentence that combines reported information with the speaker’s intention.

Does the word order in the subordinate clause differ from that in the main clause?

In the subordinate clause introduced by at, Norwegian follows a subject-verb-object order similar to English. The main clause also uses a straightforward subject-verb-object order in this sentence, though note that Norwegian main clauses sometimes employ a verb-second (V2) structure depending on emphasis or context.