Learn Hardcore Norwegian: Jeg har tidspress fordi jeg skal møte en venn. - I have time pressure because I shall meet a friend.

Tidspress is a compound noun in Norwegian that translates to time pressure in English. It combines tid (meaning time) and press (meaning pressure) to express the feeling of being rushed or not having enough time.

What does fordi mean in this sentence, and what role does it play?

Fordi means because. It introduces a subordinate clause that explains the reason behind the main clause—in this case, why the speaker is experiencing time pressure.

How is skal used in this sentence, and what does it indicate?

Skal is a modal verb used to indicate a future intention or planned action, much like saying "am going to" in English. Here, it tells us that the speaker has a scheduled meeting with a friend.

Why is the verb møte used without the particle å before it?

In Norwegian, when a modal verb such as skal is in use, the following verb is expressed in its base (infinitive) form without å. Normally, the full infinitive would be å møte, but after modals the å is omitted.

How does the word order work in the main clause compared to the subordinate clause introduced by fordi?

In the main clause Jeg har tidspress, the typical subject-verb-object order is observed with har directly following jeg. In the subordinate clause fordi jeg skal møte en venn, the word order remains standard (subject followed by the verb and then the rest of the clause) without the verb-second inversion that is common in main clauses.

Why is the indefinite article en used in en venn, and what does it signify?

The article en is used because venn is a common-gender noun in Norwegian. It functions similarly to the English indefinite article "a", indicating that the speaker is referring to one unspecified friend.

Are compound nouns like tidspress common in Norwegian, and how do they work?

Yes, compound nouns are very common in Norwegian. They are formed by joining two or more words to create a new term with a specific meaning. In tidspress, the combination of tid (time) and press (pressure) uniquely conveys the idea of being pressed for time, much like similar compound constructions are used in English.