Learn Hardcore Norwegian: Passet kontrolleres automatisk, så køen går raskt. - The passport is checked automatically, so the queue moves quickly.

Passet is the definite singular form of et pass (a passport). In Norwegian, neuter nouns in the singular add -et to become definite (“the passport” instead of “a passport”).

Why is kontrolleres used instead of kontrollerer passet?

Kontrolleres is the passive voice formed with the -es ending. It literally means “is checked.” Using the passive lets you focus on the action (the passport being checked) rather than who checks it.

Is automatisk an adjective or an adverb here, and why doesn’t it change form?

In this sentence, automatisk functions as an adverb (“automatically”). Many Norwegian adverbs are identical to their adjective form, so it remains automatisk without extra endings.

What role does så play in “Passet kontrolleres automatisk, så køen går raskt”?

Here, så is a coordinating conjunction meaning “so” or “therefore.” It links two main clauses and introduces the result clause.

Why is the word order after så subject–verb–adverb (SVO) instead of inverted?

After a coordinating conjunction like så, you treat the following clause as a new main clause. That means you use normal SVO order: køen (subject) + går (verb) + raskt (adverb).

What does køen går raskt literally mean, and how would you translate it naturally?

Literally it’s “the queue goes quickly,” but a more natural English rendering is “the line moves quickly.” In Norwegian, gå can mean “to move” in this context.

Could you replace går raskt with another verb phrase for “moves quickly”?

Yes. You could say beveger seg raskt (“moves itself quickly”), which is a bit more formal. Using går raskt is very common in everyday speech.

Is the comma before så mandatory in Norwegian?

It’s common to use a comma before så when it introduces a new main clause, but it’s not strictly mandatory. Including it makes the sentence clearer by marking the clause boundary.