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Questions & Answers about Hun er på besøk i dag.
What does each word in the sentence mean and how do they function grammatically?
In Hun er på besøk i dag, Hun means she, er is the present tense of å være (to be), på besøk is an idiomatic prepositional phrase meaning on a visit (indicating that someone is present as a guest), and i dag means today. Each component builds the meaning: the subject, the linking verb that shows state, the phrase describing her status, and the time modifier.
Why is the verb å være (represented by er) used instead of a verb that directly means “visit”?
Norwegian commonly expresses the state of being a guest with the idiom å være på besøk. Here, er (the present form of å være) links the subject to her condition of “being on a visit.” This construction emphasizes her state rather than an action, unlike the direct verb å besøke, which would focus on the act of visiting.
Can Hun er på besøk i dag be rearranged without changing its meaning, for example, by moving i dag to another position?
Yes. While the standard order places i dag (today) at the end, you can also front the time phrase for emphasis: I dag er hun på besøk. Both versions convey the same meaning, though the emphasis shifts slightly with the placement.
What is the difference between saying Hun er på besøk i dag and a sentence like Hun besøker oss i dag?
The difference lies in focus and structure. Hun er på besøk i dag emphasizes that she is present as a guest without specifying whom she is visiting, while Hun besøker oss i dag uses the direct action verb å besøke (to visit) to indicate that she is visiting “us.” The first expresses a state of being on a visit, and the second describes the active action of visiting a specific person or group.
Why is the preposition på used in the phrase på besøk?
The preposition på is part of the fixed expression på besøk, which literally translates to “on visit.” It’s an idiomatic construction in Norwegian that learners must memorize because its meaning isn’t directly deducible by translating each word separately. Using på in this phrase correctly signals the idea of being or coming as a visitor.
What tense is used in this sentence and how is that indicated?
The sentence is in the present tense. This is indicated by the use of er, which is the present form of å være. Additionally, i dag specifies that the state of being on a visit is occurring today.
How does this construction compare to similar structures in English?
Much like the English sentence “She is on a visit today” or “She is visiting today,” the Norwegian sentence uses a linking verb and an idiomatic phrase to express a temporary state. Although the phrasing differs, both languages use a subject, a form of “to be,” and a time modifier to clearly convey when the visit occurs.
Are there alternative ways to express the idea of visiting in Norwegian?
Yes, an alternative is to use the verb å besøke. For example, if you want to specify the object of the visit, you could say Hun besøker oss i dag (She is visiting us today). However, if the focus is simply on her being a guest without a specified direct object, Hun er på besøk i dag is the preferred and idiomatic expression.