Learn Hardcore Norwegian: Uten busskort må turisten betale med kontanter. - Without a bus pass the tourist must pay with cash.

uten is a preposition meaning without. It introduces what is missing or absent. In this sentence, uten busskort means “without a bus pass.”

Why is there an inversion of subject and verb (“må turisten”) after Uten busskort?

Norwegian main clauses follow the V2 rule: the finite verb must occupy the second position. Since the sentence starts with the adverbial phrase Uten busskort, the verb må comes next, and the subject turisten follows it, giving må turisten instead of turisten må.

What role does må play in this sentence?

må is a modal verb expressing necessity or obligation, equivalent to English must or have to. It indicates that it is mandatory for the tourist to pay in cash.

Why isn’t there an å before betale (i.e. why isn’t it “må å betale”)?

After modal verbs like må, Norwegian drops the infinitive marker å before the main verb. So you say må betale rather than må å betale.

Why is turisten in the definite form instead of using en turist?

Using the definite form turisten (“the tourist”) can convey a generic or typical example in Norwegian. You could also say en turist må betale…, but turisten emphasizes the role (“the (typical) tourist”) rather than just any one tourist.

Why is there no article before busskort, and could we say uten et busskort?

After prepositions of lack like uten, Norwegians often drop the indefinite article. uten busskort is a general statement. You can say uten et busskort, but that feels more specific (“without a particular bus pass”).

What does med kontanter mean and why is kontanter plural?

med means with, marking the means of payment. kontanter is the plural indefinite form of the noun kontant when it means “banknotes and coins” (cash). In Norwegian, you normally speak of kontanter (plural) rather than a singular kontant as a noun.