Hvis oppvaskmaskinen vår stopper, vasker vi glassene for hånd.

If our dishwasher stops, we wash the glasses by hand.

Breakdown of Hvis oppvaskmaskinen vår stopper, vasker vi glassene for hånd.

• vi: we
• hvis: if
• vår: our
• vaske: to wash
• stoppe: to stop
• glasset: the glass
• oppvaskmaskinen: the dishwasher
• for hånd: by hand

Questions & Answers about Hvis oppvaskmaskinen vår stopper, vasker vi glassene for hånd.

What does hvis mean, and how is it used here?

hvis means “if”. It introduces a condition. In this sentence, hvis sets up the hypothetical situation (“if our dishwasher stops”) upon which the second action depends.

Why is there a comma after stopper?

In Norwegian, when a subordinate clause (here introduced by hvis) comes before the main clause, you normally put a comma between them.
– Subordinate clause: “Hvis oppvaskmaskinen vår stopper,”
– Main clause: “vasker vi glassene for hånd.”

Why does the main clause start with vasker instead of vi vasker?

Norwegian main clauses follow the V2 rule: the finite verb must be in second position. When you begin with a fronted element (here the entire hvis-clause), that counts as “position one.” So the verb vasker moves to slot two of the overall sentence, forcing the subject vi into slot three:

1. Hvis-clause (position 1)
2. vasker (verb in position 2)
3. vi (subject)

Why is oppvaskmaskinen definite with -en, and why not just oppvaskmaskin?

The suffix -en marks the noun as definite (“the dishwasher”). You’re talking about a specific dishwasher—our dishwasher—so you say oppvaskmaskinen (“the dishwasher”). If you said en oppvaskmaskin, it would be “a dishwasher” in general.

What role does vår play in oppvaskmaskinen vår?

vår is the possessive pronoun “our.” It agrees in gender (feminine) and number (singular) with oppvaskmaskinen (“the dishwasher”). Together oppvaskmaskinen vår means “our dishwasher.”

Why is glassene in the definite plural form?

glassene = “the glasses.” The suffix -ene marks definite plural. You’re referring to those specific glasses you normally use—hence the definite form.

What does for hånd mean?

for hånd literally means “by hand.” It expresses that you wash the glasses manually rather than using a machine.

Is stopper the only way to say “breaks down” or “stops working”?

No. stopper can be used to mean “stops working,” but you could also say går i stykker (“breaks”) or slutter å fungere (“ceases to function”). In everyday Norwegian, stopper is common for appliances that suddenly stop.