Breakdown of For å beholde motivasjonen, må du alltid sette deg nye mål.
du
you
måtte
must
ny
new
for å
in order to
alltid
always
motivasjon
the motivation
beholde
to keep
sette
to set
deg
yourself
mål
the goal
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Questions & Answers about For å beholde motivasjonen, må du alltid sette deg nye mål.
What does the phrase For å beholde motivasjonen mean in English?
It translates as "in order to maintain motivation." Here, for å means "in order to," beholde means "to keep" or "to maintain," and motivasjonen refers to "the motivation" (with the definite article implied).
How is the modal verb må used in this sentence?
The modal verb må means "must" or "have to." It expresses necessity or obligation. In this sentence, it shows that you are required to take the action of setting new goals, and its placement before the subject is a reflection of Norwegian inversion rules after an introductory phrase.
What is the role of the reflexive pronoun deg in sette deg nye mål?
Deg translates to "yourself." It indicates that the action of setting new goals is directed toward yourself. Essentially, sette deg nye mål means "set yourself new goals," emphasizing a personal and self-directed commitment.
Why does the subject du come after the modal verb må instead of at the beginning?
When a sentence starts with an introductory adverbial phrase like For å beholde motivasjonen, Norwegian grammar typically requires inversion of the main clause. That means the finite verb (må) comes before the subject (du) to adhere to the V2 (verb-second) word order rule.
Is it possible to rearrange the sentence, and if so, what changes in emphasis might that cause?
Yes, you can say Du må alltid sette deg nye mål for å beholde motivasjonen. Both versions are grammatically correct. The original structure places the purpose (for å beholde motivasjonen) at the beginning, giving it extra emphasis, while the rearranged version leads with the obligation, making it the primary focus.
What function does the adverb alltid serve in the sentence?
Alltid means "always." It underscores the idea that setting new goals is not a one-time action but an ongoing process required to sustain motivation. Its placement also fits naturally after the subject in this inverted sentence structure.