Jeg var i Oslo i fjor.

I

Breakdown of Jeg var i Oslo i fjor.

• være: to be
• i: in
• Oslo: Oslo

Questions & Answers about Jeg var i Oslo i fjor.

What does var mean in this sentence, and why isn’t er used?

Var is the past tense of the verb å være (“to be”). It corresponds to English “was.” We use var here because the action happened last year. Er is present tense (“am/is/are”) and can’t express a past event.

Why is i used before Oslo?

In Norwegian, the preposition i is used with many place names—cities, towns, regions, and countries—to mean “in.” So i Oslo literally means “in Oslo.” (By contrast you say på with certain islands or stations, e.g. på Island, på togstasjonen.)

Why is there no article before Oslo?

City names in Norwegian are proper nouns and do not take an article. You wouldn’t say the Oslo in English, and similarly you never say den Oslo or Osloen in Norwegian in this context.

What does i fjor mean, and why not just fjor?

I fjor means “last year” (literally “in last year”). You need i with fjor to form the time expression. By itself fjor isn’t used as a standalone adverb of time.

Why don’t we say i fjoråret instead of i fjor?