Learn Hardcore Norwegian: Heisen fungerer endelig igjen og tar oss tre etasjer ned. - The elevator finally works again and takes us three floors down.

endelig conveys the idea of “at long last” or “finally” after a long wait, whereas igjen means “again” (it resumed its function). Together fungerer endelig igjen literally means “it finally is working again” – emphasizing both the long wait and the fact that it’s back in operation.

What is the word order rule for placing multiple adverbs like endelig and igjen in Norwegian?

Norwegian tends to follow a “time–manner–place” adverb order, but adverb collocations often have fixed positions. Here endelig (a viewpoint/time adverb) appears right after the verb, and igjen (a resumption adverb) follows it. Reversing them (fungerer igjen endelig) sounds odd. A general guideline is:

Verb
Time‐related adverbs (e.g. endelig)
Other adverbs (e.g. igjen, place, direction).

Why isn’t there a comma before og? Should I put one?

In modern Norwegian, you normally omit the comma before og when it links two verbs that share the same subject. Since “heisen” does both actions, you write Heisen fungerer endelig igjen og tar oss… without a comma. Inserting one is allowed under older rules but uncommon in everyday writing.

Why is it tre etasjer in the plural and without an article?

When you specify a number with a noun in Norwegian, the noun stays in the indefinite plural (etasjer). You don’t use an article because the number itself defines the quantity. Compare: to stoler, fem bøker, tre etasjer.

Is ned a preposition or an adverb here? Can its position change?

ned is an adverb indicating direction (“down”). It typically comes after the object: tar oss tre etasjer ned. You could also say tar oss ned tre etasjer, which is equally correct, though placing ned after the object (as in the original) is very common.

Why is the subject heisen not repeated before tar in the second clause?

When two verbs share the same subject and are joined by og, Norwegian normally omits the repeated subject. “Heisen” does both “fungerer” and “tar,” so you only state it once.

Could I use a different verb instead of tar for “takes us”? For example, fører or frakter?

The most idiomatic verb for an elevator “transporting” people is ta: heisen tar oss. You could use frakte in a more formal or technical register: heisen frakter oss tre etasjer ned, but føre or kjøre would sound odd for an elevator in everyday speech.

Can I start the sentence with Endelig instead of placing it after the verb?

Yes. You can front the adverb: Endelig fungerer heisen igjen og tar oss tre etasjer ned. This adds emphasis to the relief (“at last”), but the meaning remains the same.