Breakdown of Tastaturet lyser når jeg trykker på en knapp ved midnatt.
jeg
I
en
a
på
on
når
when
ved
at
knappen
the button
trykke
to press
tastaturet
the keyboard
midnatten
the midnight
lyse
to light up
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Questions & Answers about Tastaturet lyser når jeg trykker på en knapp ved midnatt.
Why is Tastaturet placed before lyser, and how does the main clause word order work here?
Norwegian main clauses follow the V2 rule: the finite verb must be in second position. You can put one element before the verb (subject, adverbial, object, etc.). Here the subject Tastaturet comes first, then the verb lyser, and everything else follows. The subordinate clause når jeg trykker på en knapp ved midnatt comes after the main clause because it’s an adverbial (time) clause.
Why is når used to introduce the time clause instead of da?
når is used for general, repeated or future time events (“whenever/when”). da is reserved for single, specific events in the past. Since the sentence describes a recurring or general action (the keyboard lights up whenever you press a key at midnight), når is correct.
Could I start the sentence with the time clause, like Når jeg trykker på en knapp ved midnatt, tastaturet lyser?
Yes, but you must still obey V2 in the main clause. If you lead with the subordinate clause Når jeg trykker på en knapp ved midnatt, the main clause would become lyser tastaturet (verb in position 1 because the entire subordinate clause counts as one constituent). So the full sentence would be:
Når jeg trykker på en knapp ved midnatt, lyser tastaturet.
Why is på used in trykker på en knapp, and not another preposition?
In Norwegian trykke på is a fixed verb–preposition combination meaning “to press.” You always use på with trykke when talking about pressing a button, a key, or a switch.
Why do we use the indefinite article en knapp instead of knappen?
en knapp (“a button”) implies any button in general. If you said knappen (“the button”), you’d be referring to one specific button that both speaker and listener know about.
Why is ved midnatt used for “at midnight”? Couldn’t I say på midnatt?
With precise time nouns like midnatt, Norwegian uses ved (“at/around”). på midnatt is not idiomatic. You can also drop the preposition and simply say midnatt in very poetic or telegraphic contexts, but ved midnatt is the standard.
What nuance does lyser carry here, and could I use another verb like skinner?
lyser means “lights up” or “illuminates” and fits well with backlit keyboards. skinner means “shines,” which often implies reflecting light (like the sun or a lamp). While you could say skinner, it would sound a bit odd for electronics. lyser is the preferred choice for devices that emit light.