Learn Hardcore Norwegian: Jeg kjøper en ny genser fordi den gamle er ødelagt. - I am buying a new sweater because the old one is ruined.

The sentence is divided into a main clause and a subordinate clause. The main clause is "Jeg kjøper en ny genser" (I am buying a new sweater), and the subordinate clause is "fordi den gamle er ødelagt" (because the old one is ruined). They are connected by the subordinating conjunction "fordi", which introduces the reason for the action in the main clause.

What role does the word "fordi" play, and how does it affect word order in the clause it introduces?

"Fordi" means "because" and serves as a subordinating conjunction. In Norwegian, when a subordinate clause is introduced by a conjunction like "fordi", the clause keeps the normal subject–verb–object order. Here, "den gamle" (subject) comes right before the verb "er", which is typical for subordinate clauses even though main clauses usually enforce V2 (verb-second) placement.

Why is "den" used in "den gamle" instead of repeating the noun "genser"?

After introducing "en ny genser" in the main clause, the speaker refers back to the sweater using the demonstrative pronoun "den". In Norwegian, nouns are often replaced by a pronoun in subsequent clauses to avoid redundancy. Since "genser" is a common gender noun (taking "en" as the indefinite article), the corresponding demonstrative pronoun is "den".

How does adjective agreement work in phrases like "en ny genser" and "den gamle"?

In Norwegian, adjectives must agree with the noun they modify in gender, number, and definiteness. In "en ny genser", "ny" is used in its indefinite form because "genser" is a singular common gender noun with the indefinite article "en". Later, "den gamle" uses the demonstrative pronoun "den" (which matches the common gender noun) along with the adjective "gamle" to refer back to the same noun without repeating it.

What is the grammatical nature of "ødelagt", and how is it used in this sentence?

"Ødelagt" means "ruined" or "broken" and functions as an adjective describing the condition of the old sweater. Although it originates from the verb "å ødelegge" (to destroy), here it is used adjectivally to indicate that the sweater is no longer usable.

Why doesn’t the subordinate clause repeat the noun "genser" after saying "den gamle"?

Once the noun "genser" is mentioned in the main clause, it is understood in the context of the sentence. Using "den gamle" with the pronoun "den" avoids unnecessary repetition while still clearly referring to the previously mentioned sweater. This is a common practice in Norwegian to maintain clarity and conciseness.

How would the sentence change if you wanted to emphasize possession, as in “my old one”?

To express possession, you can replace the demonstrative pronoun "den" with the possessive pronoun "min" for a common gender noun. The sentence would then read:
"Jeg kjøper en ny genser fordi min gamle er ødelagt."
This change clearly indicates that the old sweater being referred to is "my old (one)", with "min" agreeing in gender with "genser".