Learn Hardcore Norwegian: Han jobber hurtig for å møte fristen.

hurtig means “quickly” or “rapidly.” In Norwegian, many adjectives double as adverbs without changing form, so hurtig here modifies jobber in the same way an adverb does in English.

Why is the adverb hurtig placed after the verb jobber?

Norwegian main clauses typically follow Verb–Adverb–Object word order. Thus Han jobber hurtig (“He works quickly”) is the natural placement: the verb comes first, then the adverb.

Can I say Han hurtig jobber instead?

No, that sounds unnatural in everyday Norwegian. The correct order is Han jobber hurtig. You could invert for poetic effect (Hurtig jobber han…), but not in normal speech.

Could I use fort or raskt instead of hurtig?

Yes. fort, raskt, and hurtig all mean “quickly,” but differ slightly in tone. fort is most colloquial, raskt is neutral, and hurtig is more formal.

Why is there for å before møte fristen?

for å + infinitive expresses purpose (“in order to”). Here it shows why he works quickly: for å møte fristen = “in order to meet the deadline.”

What’s the difference between for å and for at?

Use for å + infinitive when the main and subordinate clauses share the same subject (as here: Han). Use for at + finite verb when the subjects differ (e.g. Jeg jobber fort for at du skal få det ferdig).

Why is fristen in the definite form (with –en)?

Norwegian marks known or specific nouns as definite. Since it’s a particular deadline (“the deadline”), you say fristen rather than just frist.

Does Norwegian have a progressive tense like “he is working”?

No. Norwegian uses the simple present (jobber) for both simple and ongoing actions. Context tells you whether it’s ongoing: Han jobber hurtig can mean “He works quickly” or “He is working quickly.”

Can I drop hurtig and just say Han jobber for å møte fristen?

Yes, that’s grammatically correct (“He works in order to meet the deadline”), but you lose the nuance that he’s working quickly.