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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?