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Questions & Answers about Du sier at han drikker vann.
Why is the conjunction at included in the sentence?
The word at introduces the subordinate clause that reports what was said, much like that in English. It’s required in Norwegian to link the main clause to the indirect speech.
How is the subject-verb-object order handled in this sentence—especially in the subordinate clause han drikker vann?
In Norwegian, the main clause follows the regular subject-verb order, and the subordinate clause does as well. In han drikker vann, han is the subject, drikker is the verb, and vann is the object. Unlike questions or commands in main clauses where the verb sometimes precedes the subject, subordinate clauses maintain this order.
Why does the verb drikker remain the same regardless of the subject?
In Norwegian, verbs in the present tense typically do not change form based on the subject. Whether the subject is han (he) or any other pronoun, the present tense form remains drikker. This contrasts with English, where vowels or additional letters might change with subjects.
What is the infinitive form of drikker, and why is it useful to know it?
The infinitive form is å drikke, which means to drink. Knowing the infinitive helps you understand how the verb is conjugated and can aid in building related tenses and forms since many Norwegian verbs are patterned around their infinitive.
Do I need to use a comma before at in this sentence?
No comma is necessary before at in this sentence. In Norwegian, commas are used differently than in English, and for short subordinate clauses like at han drikker vann, a comma is typically omitted.