Ved sluttsignalet går vi hjem.

At the final whistle we go home.

Breakdown of Ved sluttsignalet går vi hjem.

• vi: we
• gå: to go
• ved: at
• hjem: home
• sluttsignalet: the final whistle

Questions & Answers about Ved sluttsignalet går vi hjem.

What does Ved mean in this context?

Ved is a preposition meaning at or upon, used here to mark the exact moment something happens. It indicates that as soon as the whistle blows, the next action takes place.

Why is sluttsignalet in the definite form instead of sluttsignal?

To say the final whistle, you add the definite suffix -et to sluttsignal:

• slutt (end) + signal (signal) = sluttsignal
• • definite suffix -et = sluttsignalet

What is the role of the linking -s- in sluttsignalet?

In Norwegian compounds, you often insert a linking letter between words. Here:

• slutt
  • signal → sluttsignal
    The linking -s- connects the two parts smoothly.

Why is the verb går in the present tense rather than using a future construction like skal gå?

Norwegian frequently uses the present tense to express planned or immediate future actions. For example:

• Vi går hjem can mean we go home immediately or we will go home soon.
  This present use is more natural than adding skal for events that are about to happen.

Why is the word order Ved sluttsignalet går vi hjem instead of Vi går hjem ved sluttsignalet?

Norwegian follows the V2 (verb second) rule:

• When an adverbial phrase (Ved sluttsignalet) is fronted, the finite verb (går) must come second.
• The subject (vi) then follows the verb.
  If you start with the subject, you can place the adverbial later without inversion.

Why isn’t there a preposition before hjem?

hjem in Norwegian is an adverb meaning home. You don’t need a preposition:

• å gå hjem = to go home
  Adding til or på would be incorrect in this context.

Can you use dra instead of gå in this sentence?

Yes. Both verbs work, with a slight nuance:

• gå hjem emphasizes walking home
• dra hjem is more general (to leave or go home by any means)
  Neither option affects the sentence structure or overall meaning.

Could you replace Ved with Når here?

You can use når for when, but it changes the clause structure:

• Når sluttsignalet går, går vi hjem
  This version uses a subordinate clause (requires a comma and repeats går) and feels more formal.
  Ved
  • noun is more concise for marking a moment in time.