Learn Hardcore Norwegian: Vi gleder oss til å få en gjest, for vi liker selskap. - We look forward to receiving a guest, because we like company.

Gleder oss is a reflexive construction that literally means “delight ourselves,” but in everyday Norwegian it is used to express that “we look forward to” or “are excited about” something.

What is the role of the preposition til in til å få en gjest?

The preposition til introduces the infinitive phrase å få en gjest. It functions much like the English “to” in “to have a guest” and indicates the purpose or object of the anticipation expressed in the first part of the sentence.

Why is the reflexive pronoun oss used after gleder?

In Norwegian many verbs require a reflexive pronoun to show that the action is directed back to the subject. In å glede seg, the reflexive pronoun is essential (with oss corresponding to “ourselves” for “we”), making it clear that the subject is both doing and receiving the action of delight.

What does å få en gjest translate to, and is there any nuance in the use of få?

Å få en gjest literally translates to “to get a guest,” but in this context it means “to have a guest” (implying hosting or receiving someone). The verb få can mean “to get” or “to have,” and here it emphasizes the act of receiving or welcoming someone into one’s company.

What does selskap mean in this sentence?

In this context, selskap means “company” in the sense of enjoying being around other people or social gatherings, rather than referring to a business or corporation.

Why is there a comma before the word for?

The comma is used to separate two independent clauses. The first clause expresses the anticipation of having a guest, and the second clause (after for, meaning “because”) provides the reason. This punctuation helps clarify the structure and meaning of the sentence.