Breakdown of Jeg fortsetter å spørre fordi jeg ikke har fått svar.
jeg
I
ha
to have
å
to
fordi
because
ikke
not
få
to receive
spørre
to ask
fortsette
to continue
svaret
the answer
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Questions & Answers about Jeg fortsetter å spørre fordi jeg ikke har fått svar.
What does fortsette mean, and how is it used in Jeg fortsetter å spørre?
Fortsette means to continue. In the sentence it’s conjugated in the present tense as fortsetter to show an ongoing action: “I continue…”
Why is there an å before spørre?
In Norwegian, when one verb (here fortsetter) is followed by another in the infinitive, you normally insert å before the second verb. So fortsette å spørre literally means continue to ask.
Could I say Jeg spør fortsatt instead of Jeg fortsetter å spørre?
Yes. Spørre + the adverb fortsatt (“still”) is a perfectly natural alternative:
Jeg spør fortsatt fordi jeg ikke har fått svar.
Both versions convey that you’re still asking.
Why is har fått svar in the perfect tense, and how would it differ if I wrote fikk svar?
Har fått is the present perfect, used for past events with relevance to the present (you still don’t have an answer).
- Jeg har ikke fått svar = I haven’t gotten an answer (up to now).
- Jeg fikk ikke svar = I didn’t get an answer (simple past, focusing on a completed event in the past).
Why is ikke placed before har in jeg ikke har fått svar?
Because the clause is subordinate (introduced by fordi), word order is: conjunction + subject + negation + verb. So you get fordi jeg ikke har fått svar. In main clauses you’d say Jeg har ikke fått svar (verb second, negation after verb).
Why isn’t there a comma before fordi?
In Norwegian you generally don’t put a comma before subordinate conjunctions like fordi, unless you need it for clarity. It’s correct and more common here without a comma.
Why is svar used without et or noe? Could I say et svar or noe svar?
A bare indefinite noun like svar (“answer”) is common when you speak generally. You can say:
- et svar (“an answer”) if you mean one specific reply.
- noe svar (“any answer”) to emphasize “any kind of answer.”
But fått svar is idiomatic for “gotten an answer” in general.
Is Jeg fortsetter med å spørre also correct?
Yes, you can say fortsette med å + infinitive, but it’s more common to use fortsette å directly with another verb. Both are understood, though Jeg fortsetter å spørre is the more streamlined choice.