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Questions & Answers about Jeg går over broen.
What does går mean and what tense is it?
går is the present tense of å gå, which can mean “to go” or “to walk.” In this sentence it means “walk” or “walk across.” The present tense in Norwegian covers both simple present and ongoing actions.
Why is broen written with -en at the end?
The -en ending on broen is the definite article attached to the noun. bro is “a bridge,” broen is “the bridge.” Norwegian often uses a suffix instead of a separate word for “the.”
Why isn’t there a separate word for “the” before broen?
Norwegian marks definiteness with noun endings rather than a separate article. So instead of en bro for “a bridge” and the bridge, it’s broen.
What role does over play in this sentence?
over is a preposition meaning “over” or “across.” In går over broen, it indicates direction: “walk across the bridge.”
Could you use a different verb for “walk across”?
Yes. For example, you could say Jeg krysser broen, where krysser (present of å krysse) means “to cross.”
What’s the difference between over broen and på broen?
over broen means “over” or “across” the bridge (from one side to the other). på broen means “on the bridge” (standing or walking on it, without the notion of crossing).
Why does the verb come second in Jeg går over broen?
Norwegian main clauses follow the V2 word order rule: the finite verb always occupies the second position. Here Jeg is first, går (the verb) is second, followed by the rest of the sentence.