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Questions & Answers about Vi spiser pizza, ikke sant?
What does the phrase ikke sant mean in the sentence Vi spiser pizza, ikke sant? and how is it used?
Ikke sant literally translates to “not true”, but it functions as a tag question in Norwegian. In this context, it is used like the English tag “aren’t we?” or “isn’t it?” to seek confirmation or agreement from the listener about the statement.
Is the comma before ikke sant necessary, and what does its punctuation indicate in this sentence?
Yes, the comma is necessary. It separates the main declarative sentence “Vi spiser pizza” (which means “We are eating pizza”) from the tag ikke sant. This comma signals a slight pause and clarifies that the speaker is not asking a completely new question but is instead seeking confirmation of the already stated fact.
Why does Norwegian use a tag like ikke sant at the end of the sentence instead of changing the word order to form a question?
In Norwegian, adding a tag such as ikke sant is an idiomatic way to turn a statement into a confirmation question. Unlike English, where forming a question often involves inversion or the use of auxiliary verbs (for example, “Aren’t we?”), Norwegian typically retains the declarative sentence structure and appends ikke sant to invite agreement.
Can ikke sant be used with other sentences in Norwegian, and is it a universal way to ask for confirmation?
Yes, ikke sant is very common and versatile in Norwegian. It can be appended to a wide range of statements to request confirmation, regardless of the subject or context. While there are other tag phrases in Norwegian (such as eller hva? meaning “or what?”), ikke sant is the most frequently used and widely understood.
Since the meaning of the sentence is already known, are there any subtle grammatical points about verb tense or sentence structure that learners should note?
Absolutely. First, note that spiser is the present tense form of å spise (to eat), and in Norwegian, the present tense is used not only for current actions but often for near-future events as well. Additionally, the sentence maintains the standard declarative word order, with the tag ikke sant simply added at the end without altering the fundamental structure. This reinforces that tag questions in Norwegian are an add-on rather than a complete restructuring of the sentence.