Breakdown of Han tar flere fotografier fordi han har et nytt kamera.
han
he
ha
to have
et
a
fordi
because
ny
new
flere
several
ta
to take
fotografiet
the photograph
kameraet
the camera
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Questions & Answers about Han tar flere fotografier fordi han har et nytt kamera.
Why is tar used here and what does it mean?
tar is the 3rd person singular present form of the verb ta (“to take”). In this sentence tar simply means “takes,” as in “he takes photographs.” You could also say tar bilder for “takes pictures,” but fotografier is a more formal word for photographs.
What does flere mean, and how is it different from mange?
flere means “several” or “more (than before),” focusing on an additional or varying number. mange means “many,” indicating a large, more indefinite quantity. So flere fotografier suggests “he takes several/more photographs,” whereas mange fotografier would simply mean “he takes many photographs.”
Why is it flere fotografier instead of flere fotografiene?
fotografier is the indefinite plural form of the neuter noun fotografi. In Norwegian, indefinite plurals take no article. fotografiene would be the definite plural (“the photographs”), so you’d only use that if you were referring to specific, previously mentioned photos.
Why does the clause starting with fordi keep the same word order (SVO) as the main clause?
fordi is a subordinating conjunction meaning “because.” In Norwegian subordinate clauses introduced by words like fordi, at, or hvis, the finite verb remains in second position: you still have Subject–Verb–Object (han har), not Verb–Subject–Object.
Why is it har et nytt kamera and not har en nytt kamera?
kamera is a neuter noun in Norwegian, so its indefinite article is et. For neuter singular, adjectives also get a -t ending: nytt. If the noun were masculine (like bil), you’d say en ny bil.
Could you express the same idea with mange bilder instead of flere fotografier?
Yes. bilder is the common word for “pictures,” and mange means “many.” So you could say Han tar mange bilder fordi han har et nytt kamera (“He takes many pictures because he has a new camera”). It’s more colloquial than flere fotografier.
How would you say “because he bought a new camera” instead of “because he has a new camera”?
Use the past tense of kjøpe. You’d say:
Han tar flere fotografier fordi han kjøpte et nytt kamera.
Here kjøpte is “bought.”
Can you replace fordi with på grunn av in this sentence?
Yes, but på grunn av (“because of”) requires a noun phrase, not a full clause. You’d say:
Han tar flere fotografier på grunn av det nye kameraet hans.
Notice kameraet is the definite form (“the camera”) and hans marks possession (“his”).
What’s the difference between fotografier, bilder, and foto?
All three can mean “photos”:
- fotografier is more formal or technical.
- bilder is the general everyday word for “pictures” (including photos, drawings, paintings).
- foto is often used in compounds (e.g. selfie-foto) or informally.