Learn Hardcore Norwegian: Hun sjekker været på nettet. - She checks the weather on the internet.

In Norwegian, the definite article is suffixed to the noun. Vær is the indefinite form (“weather” in general), while været is the definite form (“the weather”). English uses “the weather” in this context, so Norwegian mirrors that by using været. Saying sjekker vær would sound unnatural.

Why is nettet used instead of nett or internett?

Just like været, nettet is the definite form of nett (“a net/web”). På nettet literally means “on the net,” i.e. “on the internet.” You could also say på internett, but nettet is shorter and very common in everyday speech.

How do you form the present tense sjekker?

Sjekke is a regular verb. To form the present tense, drop the infinitive -e and add -er:
• infinitive: sjekke
• present: sjekker
This form is the same for all subjects: jeg sjekker, du sjekker, hun sjekker, etc.

What does på mean, and why is it used in på nettet?

In this context, på means “on.” When talking about using the internet, Norwegian uses på:
• på nettet = “on the net” = “online”
You wouldn’t use i nettet here because that would imply being physically inside a net.

Is there a difference between “she checks the weather” and “she is checking the weather”? How do you express the continuous aspect?

Norwegian present tense covers both simple and continuous aspects. Hun sjekker været can mean either “she checks the weather” or “she is checking the weather.” To emphasize that something is ongoing, you can use holder på å + infinitive:
• Hun holder på å sjekke været. (“She is in the process of checking the weather.”)

Can you omit the subject hun like in Spanish or Italian?

No. Standard Norwegian normally requires an explicit subject pronoun even with obvious context. Omitting hun would leave a fragment (Sjekker været på nettet) and sound unnatural.

How do you turn this statement into a question in Norwegian?

You invert the verb and subject (V2 rule for yes/no questions):
• Statement: Hun sjekker været på nettet.
• Question: Sjekker hun været på nettet?

Why does på nettet come at the end of the sentence?

Norwegian word order is typically Subject–Verb–Object–Adverbial (SVOA). Prepositional phrases like på nettet function as adverbials indicating place or medium, so they follow the object været.