Questions & Answers about Jeg liker å fotografere hus.
What is the function of å in å fotografere?
å is the infinitive marker in Norwegian, equivalent to English to. It always precedes a verb in its basic (infinitive) form unless it follows a modal verb.
Why can å sometimes be omitted before the infinitive (e.g., after modal verbs)?
After modal verbs like kan, må, vil, skal, etc., Norwegian drops the infinitive marker:
– Jeg kan fotografere hus (“I can photograph houses”).
But with verbs such as liker, begynner, håper, you must keep å before the next verb.
Why is there no article before hus in Jeg liker å fotografere hus?
Because hus here is in the plural indefinite form. In Norwegian, plural indefinite nouns stand alone without et/ei/en or de—just like English “I like to photograph houses,” with no the or a.
Why is hus unchanged in singular and plural indefinite?
How would I say “I like to photograph a house” or “I like to photograph the houses”?