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Han er en venn av Tom.

Han er en venn av Tom.
He is a friend of Tom.
FromLesson 5inHardcore Norwegian
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Breakdown of Han er en venn av Tom.

være
to be
Tom
Tom
han
he
vennen
the friend
av
of
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Questions & Answers about Han er en venn av Tom.

What is the role of the preposition av in the sentence?
av translates to of in English. In “Han er en venn av Tom,” it connects the noun venn with Tom to show a relationship—essentially saying “a friend of Tom.” This construction is used in Norwegian to express possession or association.
Why do we use the indefinite article en before venn, and what does it indicate?
The word en is the indefinite article used for common gender nouns in Norwegian. In this sentence, venn is a common gender noun, so en means “a” or “one” in English. Thus, “en venn” translates to “a friend.”
How does the word order in “Han er en venn av Tom” compare to its English equivalent?
The sentence follows a structure similar to English: Han (subject: “he”), er (verb: “is”), en venn (noun phrase: “a friend”), and av Tom (prepositional phrase: “of Tom”). Both languages typically use the subject-verb-complement order in simple present statements, making the Norwegian sentence relatively straightforward for English speakers.
Could this sentence be rephrased using a possessive form, and if so, what’s the difference?
Yes, the sentence could be expressed as “Han er Toms venn.” This construction directly attaches the possessor to the noun with the possessive form (adding an s to the name, as in English “Tom’s friend”). While both forms are correct, “en venn av Tom” (a friend of Tom) can emphasize that he is one among possibly several friends of Tom, whereas “Toms venn” might imply a unique or particularly acknowledged friendship.
What tense is the verb er in, and what is its significance?
er is the present tense of the verb å være (to be) in Norwegian, equivalent to is in English. It serves as the linking verb between the subject Han and the complement en venn av Tom. This simple present tense is used to state a condition or identity that is true at the time of speaking.