Breakdown of Læreren gir et klart svar, og studenten fortsetter å skrive.
et
a
å
to
skrive
to write
og
and
gi
to give
fortsette
to continue
svaret
the answer
studenten
the student
læreren
the teacher
klar
clear
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Questions & Answers about Læreren gir et klart svar, og studenten fortsetter å skrive.
What does Læreren mean, and what does the -en ending indicate?
Læreren is the definite singular form of lærer (“teacher”). Norwegian shows definiteness by adding a suffix: lærer = “a teacher” (indefinite), læreren = “the teacher” (definite).
What is the infinitive form of gir, and why is gir used here?
The infinitive is gi (“to give”). gir is the present-tense form of this irregular verb, so læreren gir = “the teacher gives.”
Why is et used before klart svar instead of en?
Because svar is a neuter noun in Norwegian. The indefinite article for neuter nouns is et, while en is used for masculine/feminine nouns.
Why is the adjective klar spelled klart here?
Norwegian adjectives agree with the gender and number of the noun they modify. Since svar is neuter singular indefinite, you add a -t: klar → klart.
Is svar a neuter noun? How can I tell what gender a Norwegian noun has?
Yes, svar is neuter. Unfortunately, you usually have to memorize noun genders or check a dictionary. Some patterns exist (e.g. many nouns ending in -e are feminine), but there are plenty of exceptions.
Why does the verb in the second clause (fortsetter) still come right after studenten and not at the end of the clause?
The conjunction og is coordinating, so og studenten fortsetter forms a new main clause. Norwegian main clauses follow the V2 rule: the verb stays in second position (after the subject). Only subordinate clauses (introduced by words like fordi, hvis, at) move the verb to the end.
Why is there a comma before og? Is it mandatory in Norwegian?
A comma before og is optional in simple sentences, but it’s often recommended when separating two independent clauses (each with its own subject and verb) to improve readability.
What does fortsetter å skrive mean, and why is å necessary here?
fortsette means “to continue.” In Norwegian, when one verb is followed by another, you use å + infinitive (similar to “to” in English). So fortsetter å skrive = “continues to write.”