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Questions & Answers about Jeg venter på avgangen.
Why is på used after venter in this sentence? Can't we just say Jeg venter avgangen?
In Norwegian, vente (to wait) requires the preposition på when you specify what you are waiting for. The pattern is always å vente på noe. Omitting på makes the sentence ungrammatical—so you must say venter på … for “waiting for ….”
What does avgangen mean, and why is it not just avgang?
Avgangen is the definite singular form of avgang, which means departure. Adding -en marks it as the departure (a specific one). So avgangen literally means “the departure.”
Why is avgangen definite here? Could I ever use the indefinite form avgang?
You use the definite form because you’re referring to a particular, known departure (e.g. the next train or bus). If you speak about departures in general or any departure whatsoever, you’d use the indefinite avgang. But when you wait for a specific departure, it becomes avgangen.
What is the gender of avgang, and how do I form its plural?
Avgang is a common-gender noun in Bokmål. Its forms are:
• Indefinite singular: en avgang
• Definite singular: avgangen
• Indefinite plural: avganger
• Definite plural: avgangene
Is there another word for “departure” in Norwegian aside from avgang?
Yes. Avreise also means “departure,” especially the act of leaving on a journey. However, avgang is more commonly used for scheduled departures (trains, buses, flights), whereas avreise is more general or formal.
How do I pronounce Jeg venter på avgangen?
In IPA: [jæɡ ˈʋɛnːtər pɔ ˈɑʋːɡɑŋən]
Approximation in English: “Yai VEN-ter paw AV-gahn-en.”
Can I drop jeg and just say Venter på avgangen?
In informal spoken Norwegian you might drop the subject if context is clear: Venter på avgangen? (“Waiting for the departure?”). But in writing and formal speech you normally include jeg.
What is the word order in Jeg venter på avgangen? Why isn’t it Jeg på avgangen venter?
Norwegian main clauses follow the V2 rule: the finite verb must be in second position. Here the order is:
- Subject (Jeg)
- Verb (venter)
- Remaining elements (på avgangen)
If you move på avgangen to the front, the verb still stays in slot 2:
På avgangen venter jeg (“As for the departure, I’m waiting”). That’s correct but puts the emphasis on på avgangen.