Jeg liker å synge.

I like to sing.

Breakdown of Jeg liker å synge.

• jeg: I
• å: to
• like: to like
• synge: to sing

Questions & Answers about Jeg liker å synge.

What is the function of å in å synge?

å is the infinitive marker in Norwegian, equivalent to the English to in to sing. It precedes the verb in its basic form whenever you use the infinitive after verbs like liker.

Why do we use å + infinitive instead of a gerund (like “singing”)?

Norwegian does not have gerunds in the same way English does. To say you enjoy an activity, you always use å + the infinitive verb. So Jeg liker å synge literally means “I like to sing,” not “I like singing.”

How do you conjugate the verb liker for different subjects?

In the present tense, most Norwegian verbs—including like—take -r for all persons. For example:

• Jeg liker (I like)
• Du liker (You like)
• Han/Hun liker (He/She likes)
• Vi liker (We like)
• De liker (They like)

Do we always need å after liker, and are there verbs after which we drop å?

Yes, after liker you must use å before the infinitive: Jeg liker å synge. However, after modal verbs—kan (can), må (must), vil (will), skal (shall), bør (should)—you omit å:

• Jeg kan synge (I can sing)
• Jeg må synge (I must sing)

How do you make the sentence negative?

Insert ikke immediately after the finite verb:
Jeg liker ikke å synge = “I don’t like to sing.”

Can you also use a noun instead of the infinitive, like sang or synging?

• sang is a noun meaning “song” (and also the past tense of synge). Jeg liker sang would mean “I like songs.”
• synging is the gerund form “singing,” but it’s less common. You can say Jeg liker synging, though most Norwegians prefer Jeg liker å synge.

How would you say “He/We/They like to sing” in Norwegian?

Simply change the subject pronoun; the rest stays the same:

• Han liker å synge (He likes to sing)
• Vi liker å synge (We like to sing)
• De liker å synge (They like to sing)

What’s the difference between liker and elsker when talking about singing?

• liker means “to like” (mild or general enjoyment).
• elsker means “to love” (strong affection).
  So Jeg liker å synge = “I like to sing,” whereas Jeg elsker å synge = “I love to sing.”