Learn Hardcore Norwegian: Lyset slår seg av automatisk ved midnatt. - The light turns off automatically at midnight.

slår av is a separable verb meaning “to turn off.” When you add seg, it becomes reflexive: “it turns itself off.” In Norwegian, actions that happen by themselves often take a reflexive pronoun to show the subject is both actor and receiver. The pattern is slår + seg + av.

Why is the particle av at the end of the clause instead of next to slår?

In separable verbs like å slå av, the particle av moves to the end of the clause when the verb is conjugated in a simple tense. The reflexive pronoun sits between the verb stem and the particle. Hence: slår (verb) + seg (pronoun) + av (particle).

Why is the present tense slår seg av used for an event in the future (midnight)?

In Norwegian, the present tense can express scheduled or timetabled events in the future, similar to English “The train leaves at 9 AM.” This use conveys a sense of routine or fixed schedule.

What part of speech is automatisk, and can its position change in the sentence?

automatisk functions as an adverb here (it has the same form as the adjective). You can move it around among the adverbial elements:

Lyset slår seg av automatisk ved midnatt.
Lyset slår seg automatisk av ved midnatt.
Both are acceptable, though placing it before av is slightly more common.

What does ved midnatt mean, and why do we use ved for time?

ved midnatt means “at midnight.” Norwegian uses ved with precise points in time (e.g., ved kl. 10, ved midnatt). It indicates an exact moment, whereas om natten would refer to “during the night” in a more general sense.

Why is lys written as lyset here?

lys is a neuter noun (et lys). To form the definite singular (“the light”), you add -et: lyset. Norwegian attaches the definite article to the end of the noun rather than using a separate word like “the.”

Could you rephrase this sentence using a passive construction like lyset blir slått av?

You can say Lyset blir slått av automatisk ved midnatt, but it sounds less natural. The reflexive form slår seg av is preferred when something switches itself off.

What’s the difference between slå av and skru av, and can you say lyset skrur seg av?

Both slå av and skru av mean “to turn off.” slå is more general (lights, machines, sounds), while skru often implies using a mechanical switch or dial. You can say lyset skrur seg av, but slår seg av is more idiomatic for lights that automatically turn off.

How do you form the imperative “Turn off the light” in Norwegian?

Use the base verb plus particle plus object:
Slå av lyset!

How are slår and seg pronounced in this sentence?

slår: [sloːr] – the å sounds like the “oo” in English “door.”
seg: [seː] – the e is pronounced like the “ay” in “say,” and the g is very soft or nearly silent.