Breakdown of Jeg slår av lysbryteren ved midnatt før jeg sovner.
jeg
I
før
before
ved
at
slå av
to turn off
sovne
to fall asleep
lysbryteren
the light switch
midnatten
the midnight
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Questions & Answers about Jeg slår av lysbryteren ved midnatt før jeg sovner.
What does slår av mean here, and why are the words separated?
slår av is a separable verb meaning “to turn off.” In the infinitive it’s å slå av, but in a main clause Norwegian splits the prefix av from the verb slå, so you get slår av.
Why is lysbryteren in its definite form instead of just lysbryter?
The sentence refers to a specific light switch, so the noun is made definite with the suffix -en. Thus lysbryter (light switch) becomes lysbryteren (the light switch).
Could you instead say jeg slår lysbryteren av? Does that change the meaning or emphasis?
Yes, you can. With a definite noun object you may place it either before or after the particle:
- jeg slår av lysbryteren
- jeg slår lysbryteren av
Both mean exactly the same. If the object were a pronoun, you must insert it between verb and particle (e.g. jeg slår den av).
What role does ved play in ved midnatt, and why not på midnatt?
In time expressions requiring “at” for a precise point, Norwegian uses ved. So ved midnatt = at midnight. på midnatt is ungrammatical in Norwegian.
Can I replace ved midnatt with klokka tolv or kl. 12?
Absolutely. You can say:
- jeg slår av lysbryteren klokka tolv
- jeg slår av lysbryteren kl. 12
This is a more colloquial way of specifying the same time.
Why is før jeg sovner in the present tense rather than infinitive or future tense?
After subordinating conjunctions like før you use the finite verb form, here sovner (present of å sovne). Additionally, Norwegian often uses the present tense to express both habitual actions and near-future events, much like English.
Could før jeg sovner appear at the beginning of the sentence?
Yes. You can front the clause:
Før jeg sovner, slår jeg av lysbryteren ved midnatt.
Note that the main clause still follows the V2 rule: the finite verb slår comes first, then the subject jeg.
Why can’t I say før å sovne or før sovner without jeg?
Conjunctions like før require a full subordinate clause with its own subject and finite verb. You cannot use an infinitive (før å sovne) nor drop the subject (før sovner); you must say før jeg sovner.
Is there a more formal or literary way to say “turn off the switch” in Norwegian?
Yes. Instead of slå av bryteren, you could use the verb slukke with the light itself: slukke lyset (“switch off the light”). That’s slightly more formal or written style.