Vi deler ansvaret for prosjektet.

We share the responsibility for the project.

Breakdown of Vi deler ansvaret for prosjektet.

• vi: we
• for: for
• prosjektet: the project
• dele: to share
• ansvaret: the responsibility

Questions & Answers about Vi deler ansvaret for prosjektet.

What does deler mean, and why is it spelled that way?

deler is the present tense of the verb å dele (“to share” or “to divide”). In Norwegian you form the present by adding -r to the infinitive stem, and it doesn’t change with person: jeg deler, du deler, han/vi deler, etc.

Why is ansvaret used instead of ansvar?

Ansvar is a neuter noun (et ansvar). To make it definite (“the responsibility”), you add the suffix -et, resulting in ansvaret.

Why does prosjektet also end in -et?

Similarly, prosjekt is a neuter noun (et prosjekt). In the definite singular you attach -et, so prosjektet means “the project.”

Why is the preposition for used in ansvaret for prosjektet?

In Norwegian, you pair ansvar with for to indicate responsibility over something (“ansvar for noe”), just like English “responsibility for.”

Could I say Vi deler på ansvaret instead of Vi deler ansvaret?

You normally use dele på for splitting concrete items or taking turns (dele på oppgavene), but with an abstract concept like responsibility, dele ansvaret is more natural. Dele på implies alternating or rotating, which doesn’t fit here.

Can I change the word order and say For prosjektet deler vi ansvaret?

Yes, you can front the prepositional phrase for emphasis: For prosjektet deler vi ansvaret. However, the neutral word order is subject–verb–object–prepositional phrase: Vi deler ansvaret for prosjektet.

Is there another verb I could use instead of dele here?

You could use fordele (“to distribute” or “allocate”), as in Vi fordeler ansvaret. That emphasizes assigning different parts of the responsibility among people.