Learn Hardcore Norwegian: Oppgaven blir skrevet i dag, selv om det er mye støy på kontoret. - The task is being written today, even though there is a lot of noise in the office.

blir skrevet = “is being written” (dynamic passive)
skriver = “(someone) writes / is writing” (active)
If you used skriver, you would normally specify the subject: Vi skriver oppgaven i dag (“We are writing the assignment today”).

What’s the difference between the bli-passive (blir skrevet) and the s-passive (skrives)?

Both forms express a passive meaning, but they have slightly different nuances:

bli-passive (blir skrevet) often feels more ongoing or process-focused.
s-passive (skrives) is more neutral, concise and common in written language.
Examples:
• Oppgaven blir skrevet i dag. (Emphasis on the act happening now.)
• Oppgaven skrives i dag. (Standard passive: “The assignment is written today.”)

Why does Oppgaven end with -en and kontoret with -et?

Norwegian marks the definite singular by adding a suffix that depends on the noun’s gender:

Oppgave is common gender (feminine/masculine) → definite singular oppgaven.
Kontor is neuter → definite singular kontoret.

So Oppgaven = “the assignment” and kontoret = “the office.”

What does selv om mean and how is it used?

selv om is a subordinating conjunction meaning “even though” or “although.” It introduces a clause that expresses a contrast to the main clause. In your sentence:
“Oppgaven blir skrevet i dag, selv om det er mye støy på kontoret.”
= “The assignment is being written today, even though there is a lot of noise in the office.”

Why doesn’t selv om cause inversion in det er mye støy?

In Norwegian, subordinate clauses (introduced by conjunctions like selv om) use normal SVO word order. Only main clauses flip the verb and subject after fronting an element.

Subordinate: selv om det er mye støy (Subject det → Verb er)
If this clause came first, the main clause that follows would invert:
Selv om det er mye støy, blir oppgaven skrevet i dag.

Why is it mye støy and not mange støy?

støy (“noise”) is an uncountable (mass) noun in Norwegian.

With uncountables you use mye (“much/a lot of”).
With countable nouns you use mange (“many”).
Examples:
• mye melk (much milk)
• mange epler (many apples)

Why is the preposition på used with kontoret and not i?

Preposition choice in Norwegian often depends on established usage for places or institutions. For many locations where an activity occurs (office, school, work) you use på:

på kontoret (in/at the office)
på skolen (at school)
på jobben (at work)
By contrast, i is used with fully enclosed spaces or geographical areas:
i huset (in the house)
i landet (in the country)

Why is i dag written as two words?

In modern Norwegian, the adverb “today” is spelled i dag, two separate words. Writing idag as one word is archaic or dialectal. You should always use i dag in standard Bokmål and Nynorsk.