Breakdown of Vi løser et kryssord sammen mens vi venter på toget.
vi
we
et
a
toget
the train
sammen
together
på
for
mens
while
vente
to wait
løse
to solve
kryssordet
the crossword
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Questions & Answers about Vi løser et kryssord sammen mens vi venter på toget.
Why is the verb løser used here, and what tense is it?
Løser is the present tense of løse (“to solve”). In Norwegian, the simple present often covers both the English simple present (“we solve”) and the present continuous (“we are solving”). Here it indicates an action taking place right now.
Why does the sentence use et kryssord? Why not en kryssord or a definite form?
- Kryssord is a neuter noun in Norwegian, so its indefinite article is et (not en).
- It’s indefinite because we’re talking about “a crossword puzzle” in general, not “the crossword puzzle” (which would be kryssordet).
What does sammen mean, and why is it placed after the object?
- Sammen means “together.”
- Adverbs like sammen commonly come after the verb and any objects: “Vi løser et kryssord sammen.”
- You could front it for emphasis (Sammen løser vi...), but the default spot is where you see it.
What role does mens play, and how is it different from når or da?
- Mens means “while” and introduces two simultaneous actions.
- Når usually means “when” for habitual or future events.
- Da means “when” for single past events.
- Since you’re describing two actions happening at the same time right now, mens is correct.
Why is vi repeated in the phrase mens vi venter på toget?
Each clause in Norwegian needs its own subject. Even though it’s the same vi, the subordinate clause introduced by mens must explicitly include it.
What does venter på mean, and why is på necessary?
- Vente på means “to wait for.” It’s a fixed verb–preposition combination.
- Dropping på would make the sentence ungrammatical: you always need på with vente when someone is waiting for something.
Could you use a different construction to emphasize that the crossword solving is ongoing?
Yes. For example:
– Vi holder på å løse et kryssord (“We are in the process of solving a crossword”).
This emphasizes the ongoing nature even more, but Vi løser et kryssord is perfectly natural and more concise.
Why are both løser and venter in the present tense instead of using a continuous form?
Norwegian does not have a separate continuous tense. The simple present serves both functions. So using løser and venter simultaneously expresses “are solving” and “are waiting” without extra auxiliary verbs.