Questions & Answers about Det var varmt i forrige uke.
What is the function of det in this sentence?
It’s an expletive or “dummy” subject, much like the it in English it’s raining or it’s cold. Norwegian declarative clauses generally require a subject, so det fills that spot without referring to anything concrete.
Why is var used instead of har vært or ble?
var is the simple past (preterite) of å være (“to be”), used for a finished state at a specific time in the past (“it was warm”).
- har vært (present perfect) would emphasize a connection to the present (“it has been warm”).
- ble is the past of å bli (“to become”) and suggests a change of state (“it became warm”).
Why is the adjective varm spelled varmt here?
In Norwegian, predicative adjectives agree with the grammatical gender of their subject. Here, the subject is the neuter pronoun det, so the adjective must take its neuter singular form, which adds -t: varmt.
What is the purpose of the i before forrige uke? Can you omit it?