Learn Hardcore Norwegian: Det er viktig å forbedre miljøet. - It is important to improve the environment.

In Norwegian, when you want to say “It is important to do something,” you use an impersonal construction with a dummy subject det (like English “it” in “It is raining”), followed by er, an adjective, and then å plus the infinitive. So Det er viktig å forbedre miljøet literally mirrors “It is important to improve the environment.” You can’t jump straight to viktig å forbedre miljøet in standard written language.

What is the function of det here?

Det is a dummy or expletive subject that doesn’t refer to anything concrete. It fills the grammatical subject slot when the real subject is an infinitive clause (i.e. å forbedre miljøet). This is exactly like English “it” in “It is fun to play.”

Why do we put å before forbedre, and what does it do?

Å is the infinitive marker in Norwegian, equivalent to English “to” in “to improve.” It signals that forbedre is in its basic, unconjugated form. After adjectives like viktig, you always use å + infinitive to introduce the action you’re talking about.

Why is forbedre in the infinitive form and not forbedrer?

Because the structure det er viktig å … requires an infinitive. Using forbedrer (present tense) would make it a statement about an ongoing action (“it improves”), which doesn’t match the “it is important to do X” pattern.

Why is miljøet in the definite form, and could we use miljø instead?

In Norwegian you often use the definite form (adding -et) for general or well‐known concepts. Miljøet means “the environment” in a universal sense. If you said et miljø, it would mean “an environment” (one specific environment, like a lab environment), which changes the meaning.

What gender is miljø, and how do you form its definite singular?

Miljø is a neuter noun in Bokmål. Its indefinite form is et miljø, and its definite singular is formed by adding -et, giving miljøet.

Can I say Å forbedre miljøet er viktig instead of Det er viktig å forbedre miljøet?

Yes, Å forbedre miljøet er viktig (“To improve the environment is important”) is grammatically correct but sounds more formal or bookish. Det er viktig å … is the more common everyday structure.

In casual speech, could I drop det er and just say Viktig å forbedre miljøet?

You might see Viktig å forbedre miljøet in headlines, bullet points, or very informal notes. But in complete sentences you should include det er viktig å for correct, standard Norwegian.