Question 1

How do you translate tar med in this sentence and how does it work?

Accepted Answer

tar med is a two-word verb (verb + particle) meaning “to bring something with you.” It combines ta (to take) + med (with). In the present tense jeg tar med solkrem = “I bring (my) sunscreen.”

Question 2

Why is it jeg tar med solkrem and not jeg tar med meg solkrem?

Accepted Answer

In Norwegian tar med already implies bringing something with you, so adding meg (myself) would be redundant. Native speakers simply say jeg tar med solkrem, not jeg tar med meg solkrem.

Question 3

Can I use ha med or bringe instead of ta med?

Accepted Answer

Yes.  
- jeg har med solkrem means “I have sunscreen with me” (emphasizing possession).  
- ta med stresses the action of bringing it.  
- å bringe exists but is formal or literary in Norwegian. In everyday speech you’ll hear ta med or ha med far more often.

Question 4

What does for å være trygg i solen mean and why is for å used?

Accepted Answer

for å + infinitive expresses purpose, equivalent to “in order to” or simply “to” in English. Here for å være trygg i solen = “to be safe in the sun.” You use for å when the subject of both clauses is the same (here: “I”).

Question 5

Could I say for at jeg skal være trygg i solen instead of for å være trygg i solen?

Accepted Answer

Yes, but it’s more wordy. You’d say:  
jeg tar med solkrem for at jeg skal være trygg i solen  
This uses a subordinate clause with for at + modal skal. Native speakers prefer the concise for å + infinitive when the subject doesn’t change.

Question 6

Why is it trygg and not sikker?

Accepted Answer

trygg means physically safe or protected, which fits exposure to the sun.  
sikker means certain or sure. Saying for å være sikker i solen would imply you want to be certain while in the sun, not physically safe.

Question 7

Why is it i solen and not på solen or under solen?

Accepted Answer

i solen means “in the sun” (exposed to sunlight).  
- på solen would literally be “on the sun” (the star itself).  
- under solen means “under the sun” (outdoors, in general).  
For direct sunlight exposure you use i solen (or colloquially i sola).

Question 8

Why is there no article before solkrem? How do you talk about a specific bottle of sunscreen?

Accepted Answer

solkrem is usually uncountable (a mass noun), so you omit the article: tar med solkrem.  
To specify quantity, add a measure word: en flaske solkrem (a bottle of sunscreen).  
To refer to a particular sunscreen: solkremen (the sunscreen).

Jeg tar med solkrem for å være trygg i solen.

Breakdown of Jeg tar med solkrem for å være trygg i solen.

Questions & Answers about Jeg tar med solkrem for å være trygg i solen.

More from this lesson

Master Norwegian — from Jeg tar med solkrem for å være trygg i solen to fluency