Learn Hardcore Norwegian: Kunstneren planlegger allerede neste utstilling, selv om professoren mener tiden er knapp. - The artist is already planning the next exhibition, even though the professor thinks time is short.

Kunstneren means the artist (singular). In Norwegian you often form the definite singular by tacking -en (for masculine nouns) or -et (for neuter) onto the noun itself, rather than using a separate word like den or det.

Why isn’t there a separate auxiliary verb for the English “is planning”?

Norwegian has no distinct progressive tense. The present simple form planlegger covers both the English simple present (“plans”) and present continuous (“is planning”).

Why is allerede placed immediately after planlegger instead of at the end of the sentence?

Norwegian follows a V2 (verb-second) rule: the finite verb comes in second position, and time adverbs like allerede typically follow it. So you get planlegger allerede neste utstilling rather than allerede planlegger or planlegger neste utstilling allerede.

Do I need an article before neste utstilling (“next exhibition”)?

No. The word neste (“next”) acts as a determiner, so you simply say neste utstilling. You could add den (den neste utstillingen), but it’s less common and often redundant.

What does selv om mean, and how is it used?

Selv om translates to even though or although. It introduces a concession clause, showing contrast between two statements. E.g. Selv om det regner, går jeg ut = Even though it’s raining, I’ll go out.

Why can you omit at after mener in professoren mener tiden er knapp?

In Norwegian, the conjunction at (that) is optional after verbs of thinking, saying or believing. Both professoren mener at tiden er knapp and professoren mener tiden er knapp are correct and equally common.

Why does mener stay in second position in the clause after selv om?

Unlike some subordinating conjunctions (e.g. at, which can push the verb to the end), selv om does not change the usual V2 word order. Clauses introduced by selv om still place the finite verb right after the subject.

Why is the noun in tiden er knapp in its definite form (tiden)?

They’re referring to a specific amount of time available for the exhibition. Using the definite form tiden = the time, emphasizes that particular time constraint. Saying tid er knapp would be more general (“time is scarce” in an abstract sense).

What does knapp mean in tiden er knapp?

Here knapp means scarce, limited or in short supply. So tiden er knapp conveys “there isn’t much time” or “time is running short.”

Why is there a comma before selv om in this sentence?

In Norwegian you generally separate two main clauses with a comma when they’re joined by conjunctions like selv om. It clarifies the pause before the concessive clause.