Questions & Answers about Jeg drikker bare vann.
What does bare mean in this sentence?
In Norwegian, bare is an adverb meaning only or just. In Jeg drikker bare vann, it restricts the action to drinking water alone: “I only drink water.”
Why is bare placed before vann and not right after drikker?
Norwegian places adverbs that limit or modify an object immediately before that object. Here bare modifies vann, so it goes before it. If you say Jeg bare drikker vann, it sounds awkward and may imply “I just happen to drink water,” shifting the focus to the verb rather than to the fact that water is the only thing you drink.
Can I use kun instead of bare?
Yes. Kun also means only, but it’s more formal and often found in written language. In everyday speech, bare is more common and colloquial. Both are grammatically correct:
• Colloquial: Jeg drikker bare vann.
• Formal/written: Jeg drikker kun vann.
Why isn’t there an article before vann? Shouldn’t it be et vann or noe vann?