Breakdown of Vaktene krever pass før du går inn.
du
you
før
before
passet
the passport
vakten
the guard
kreve
to demand
gå inn
to enter
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Questions & Answers about Vaktene krever pass før du går inn.
What does vaktene mean, and why is it in the definite form?
vaktene is the definite plural of vakt (“guard”). In Norwegian you form the plural by adding -er (vakter) and then make it definite by adding -ne, so vakter → vaktene (“the guards”). We use the definite form because we’re talking about those specific guards at the entrance.
What tense and person is krever, and how does it conjugate?
krever is the present tense of å kreve (“to demand/require”). Unlike English, Norwegian verbs normally have the same present-tense form for all persons:
• jeg krever
• du krever
• han/hun krever
• vi krever
• dere krever
• de krever
Why is there no article before pass? Wouldn’t you say et pass?
Here pass (“passport”) is used generically to state a requirement. Norwegian often omits the indefinite article in fixed requirements, much like English traffic signs that say “helmets required” rather than “a helmet is required.” You could say krever et pass, but the idiomatic, concise form is krever pass.
What is the function of før in this sentence?
før is a subordinating conjunction meaning “before.” It introduces a subordinate time clause (før du går inn = “before you go in”).
Why doesn’t the word order invert after før (i.e. why not før går du inn)?
In subordinate clauses introduced by conjunctions like før, at, fordi, etc., Norwegian keeps the normal Subject-Verb-Object order (SVO). In main clauses you sometimes see inversion, but subordinate clauses stay SVO.
What kind of verb phrase is går inn, and how does it compare to English?
gå inn is a two-word verb phrase consisting of the verb gå (“to go”) and the directional adverb inn (“in”). Together they mean “to enter.” In English you have the similar phrasal verb “go in,” where the particle can’t become one word either.
Could I rephrase this in the passive voice?
Yes. A common passive version is:
Det kreves pass før du går inn.
Literally “Passport is required before you go in,” using the impersonal det + verb + subject structure.
Is there another natural way to express the same requirement?
Absolutely. You can use a modal verb, for example:
Du må vise pass før du går inn.
“You must show a passport before you go in.” Here må is “must” and vise is “to show.”