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Questions & Answers about Det er hyggelig å se deg.
What is the literal translation of Det er hyggelig å se deg?
It translates literally to “It is nice to see you.” Here, Det means “it,” er means “is,” hyggelig means “nice” or “pleasant,” and å se deg means “to see you.”
Why is det used as the subject in this sentence?
Det functions as a dummy subject, much like it in English phrases such as “It is nice to see you.” It doesn’t refer to a specific thing but is required grammatically to form the sentence.
What role does the marker å play in the sentence?
The word å marks the infinitive form of the verb that follows. In å se deg, it indicates that se (“to see”) is in its base, or infinitive, form, similar to the use of to before a verb in English.
Why is deg used instead of du in å se deg?
In Norwegian, pronouns change form depending on their grammatical function. Du is used as the subject, while deg is used as the object. Since you are the one being seen in this sentence, deg (the object form) is correctly used.
How does the sentence structure compare to its English equivalent?
The structure is very similar. Both Norwegian and English use a dummy subject followed by a linking verb, an adjective, and an infinitive phrase. In this case, Det er hyggelig matches “It is nice,” and å se deg corresponds to “to see you.” The main difference is that Norwegian explicitly marks the infinitive with å.
Is Det er hyggelig å se deg appropriate for both formal and informal settings?
Yes, this sentence is versatile and polite. It can be used in a variety of contexts, whether you’re meeting someone in a formal setting or greeting a friend informally.