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Breakdown of Det er viktig å vite prisen før du kjøper.
være
to be
du
you
å
to
kjøpe
to buy
det
it
viktig
important
før
before
prisen
the price
vite
to know
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Questions & Answers about Det er viktig å vite prisen før du kjøper.
Why is there det at the beginning of this sentence?
In Norwegian, det often functions as a dummy subject (expletive pronoun), similar to English “it” in It is important to know…. It doesn’t refer to anything specific but introduces an impersonal statement.
What does å do in viktig å vite? Why isn’t there å before kjøper?
- å is the infinitive marker in Norwegian.
- å vite = “to know.”
- kjøper in før du kjøper is a finite (conjugated) verb in a subordinate clause introduced by før. Subordinate clauses in Norwegian generally use subject–verb (SVO) order with a finite verb, so no å is needed there.
Why is prisen in the definite form (ending in -en)?
When you talk about something specific or already implied by context – here, the price – Norwegian adds the definite article as a suffix.
• pris = “price” (indefinite)
• prisen = “the price” (definite)
Can you leave out det after før du kjøper, as in just før du kjøper?
Yes. If it’s clear from context what you’re buying, you can omit the object pronoun det. Adding it (før du kjøper det) is optional and simply clarifies “before you buy it.”
What happens if I move the før-clause to the front: Før du kjøper det, … ?
That’s perfectly fine. You get:
Før du kjøper det, er det viktig å vite prisen.
After the comma, the main clause remains in normal SVO order.
Why not say Å vite prisen er viktig?
That structure is grammatically correct but sounds more formal or marked. Starting with Det er viktig … is the most common, idiomatic way to state general truths or advice.
Could I use kjøpe instead of kjøper after før?
No. After a conjunction like før, you need a finite verb (present tense) to form the subordinate clause. So it must be før du kjøper, not før du kjøpe.
What nuance is there between vite prisen and kjenne prisen?
• vite prisen = “to know the price” (a factual detail)
• kjenne prisen can imply “to be familiar with” or “have a feel for” the price, but it’s less precise when you simply want the exact figure. Here, vite prisen is the natural choice.