Vi betaler regningen etter banketten.

We pay the bill after the banquet.

Breakdown of Vi betaler regningen etter banketten.

• vi: we
• betale: to pay
• etter: after
• regningen: the bill
• banketten: the banquet

Questions & Answers about Vi betaler regningen etter banketten.

What tense is betaler, and why is it used when we mean “will pay”?

Betaler is the present tense of å betale (“to pay”). In Norwegian, the present tense often covers future actions if there’s a clear time marker—in this case, etter banketten (“after the banquet”). So vi betaler literally is “we pay,” but contextually it means “we will pay.”

Why do both regningen and banketten end with -en?

Norwegian marks definite nouns by adding a suffix instead of using a separate word like “the.”

• regning = “a bill” → regningen = “the bill”
• bankett = “a banquet” → banketten = “the banquet”

Could we say Vi betaler en regning etter banketten?

You could, but it changes meaning.

• en regning = “a bill” (indefinite) suggests any bill, not one specific.
• regningen = “the bill” (definite) refers to the particular bill from the banquet.

Why is there no preposition before banketten?

Etter itself is a preposition meaning “after.” You pair it directly with a noun: etter + [definite/indefinite noun]. No extra article or preposition is needed.

Can we move etter banketten to the beginning of the sentence?

Yes! Norwegian is V2 (verb-second) in main clauses. If you place the time phrase first, the verb still stays second, so the subject must follow the verb:
“Etter banketten betaler vi regningen.”

Is there any nuance between bankett and fest?

• bankett specifically refers to a formal banquet (often with speeches, formal seating).
• fest is a more general term for a party (informal or formal).

How would you pronounce banketten correctly?

• bank sounds like English “bangk.”
• Double t indicates a short preceding vowel, so you shorten the “e” in -et- and pronounce a crisp -tt-.
• Stress falls on the first syllable: BAN-ket-ten.

Why isn’t there an auxiliary verb for the future, like “skal”?

You can add skal for emphasis or certainty:
“Vi skal betale regningen etter banketten.”
This makes it more explicit: “We shall/must pay the bill after the banquet,” but it isn’t required if the time phrase already clarifies the future aspect.