Jeg forstår regelen nå.

I understand the rule now.

Breakdown of Jeg forstår regelen nå.

• jeg: I
• nå: now
• forstå: to understand
• regelen: the rule

Questions & Answers about Jeg forstår regelen nå.

Why is jeg necessary at the beginning? Can I drop the subject like in English (“Understand the rule now”)?

In Norwegian you almost always need an explicit subject pronoun. Unlike English imperatives or pro-drop languages (e.g. Spanish), you can’t omit jeg in a normal indicative sentence. Every full clause normally requires its subject.

What tense and verb form is forstår, and what’s the infinitive?

Forstår is the present tense of the verb å forstå (“to understand”). In Norwegian, the present is formed by adding -r to the infinitive stem:

• Infinitive: å forstå
• Present: forstår
• Past: forsto
• Perfect (with har): har forstått

Why is it regelen instead of regel?

Norwegian uses a suffix instead of a separate word for the definite article.

• regel = “a rule” (indefinite)
• regelen = “the rule” (definite)
  Here the speaker refers to a specific rule, so they use the definite form regelen.

Why does nå (“now”) come at the end of the sentence?

Typical word order in a Norwegian main clause is Subject–Verb–Object–Adverb. Since nå is a time adverbial, it usually follows the object: Jeg (S) forstår (V) regelen (O) nå (Adv).
You can move nå for emphasis, but if you front it, remember the verb must stay in second position:
Nå (Adv) forstår (V) jeg (S) regelen.

What is V2 word order, and how would the sentence look if I start with Nå?

Norwegian is a V2 (“verb‐second”) language: the finite verb always occupies the second position in main clauses. If you begin with the adverb nå, the order becomes: Nå (1st) forstår (2nd) jeg (3rd) regelen (4th).

Is there a difference between forstår and skjønner?

Both can translate as “understand,” but:

• forstå is more neutral or formal, often used in written or academic contexts.
• skjønne is more colloquial, common in everyday speech.

How do I pronounce “Jeg forstår regelen nå”?

• jeg: pronounced like “yai” (g is silent).
• forstår: stress on -står; å sounds like “aw”; roll the r.
• regelen: stress on re-, first e like “eh,” second e is a quick schwa.
• nå: like “naw.”
  Overall rhythm: YAI for-STOR REH-glen NAW.