Learn Hardcore Norwegian: Vi planlegger å nå fjelltoppen før solen går ned for å få mer dagslys. - We plan to reach the mountain top before the sun sets to get more daylight.

å is the infinitive marker, like “to” in English: å nå = “to reach,” å få = “to get.”
og means “and.” Tip: If you can insert “to” before an English verb, you probably need å in Norwegian, not og.

Why is fjelltoppen in the definite form?

Norwegian usually puts the article at the end of the noun. en fjelltopp = “a mountain top” (indefinite), fjelltoppen = “the mountain top” (definite). Using the definite suggests a specific, known summit (the one we’re climbing). If you mean any summit, use en fjelltopp.

Do I need a preposition after nå? Why not nå til fjelltoppen?

No preposition is needed. å nå noe = “to reach something.” Compare:

å nå fjelltoppen (correct)
å komme til fjelltoppen (also correct, with komme
- til) Using nå emphasizes achieving the goal; komme til is more neutral “arrive at.”

Could I use rekke instead of nå?

Yes, with a nuance change:

å nå fjelltoppen = to reach the summit (goal/achievement focus).
å rekke fjelltoppen = to make it to the summit in time (time/deadline focus). In this sentence, rekke fits well because of the sunset time pressure: Vi planlegger å rekke fjelltoppen før solen går ned.

Is solen correct? What about sola?

Both solen and sola are correct in Bokmål. solen uses the -en ending; sola uses the -a feminine ending. Choose one style and be consistent. Many speakers say sola in everyday speech.

Why is it går ned with the sun? Could I say setter?

Norwegian idiomatically uses motion verbs for the sun:

Solen går ned (the sun goes down)
Solen står opp (the sun rises) You generally don’t use setter here. As a noun, you can say solnedgang (sunset): før solnedgang = “before sunset.”

What’s the difference between før, når, and innen here?

før = “before” (one event happens earlier than another): før solen går ned.
når = “when/whenever” (at the time that): når solen går ned means “at the time the sun goes down,” not “before.”
innen = “by (a deadline)” and often pairs with a time point/noun: innen solnedgang = “by sunset.”

How does for å work? Could I use for at, sånn at, or til å instead?

for å
- infinitive expresses purpose: for å få mer dagslys = “in order to get more daylight.”
for at introduces a finite clause with a subject: for at vi skal få mer dagslys.
sånn at/slik at expresses result or purpose with a finite clause: sånn at vi får mer dagslys.
til å is used after certain adjectives/verbs or with “use … to”: vanskelig å, bruke noe til å gjøre noe. It doesn’t replace for å for purpose here.

Is the word order in før solen går ned right? Why not før går solen ned?

In subordinate clauses (introduced by før), Norwegian keeps normal SVO order: solen går ned, not går solen ned. If you front the subordinate clause, the main clause still obeys V2:

Før solen går ned, planlegger vi å nå fjelltoppen.

Should there be a comma before før or before for å?

No comma is needed when the subordinate clause comes at the end: … før solen går ned …
If you front it, add a comma after it: Før solen går ned, …
for å-phrases usually take no comma unless they are fronted or parenthetical: For å få mer dagslys, planlegger vi …

Why mer and not flere in mer dagslys?

mer is for uncountable nouns/amounts: mer vann, mer tid, mer dagslys.
flere is for countable plurals: flere dager, flere fjelltopper. Since dagslys is uncountable, mer is correct.

Is fjelltoppen one word? Can I say toppen av fjellet?

Compound nouns are written as one word: fjelltopp (mountain + top). Definite: fjelltoppen. You can say toppen av fjellet, but the compound fjelltoppen is shorter and often more idiomatic.

Pronunciation tips for tricky bits?

å (infinitive marker) is pronounced like a long “oo” [oː]. og (“and”) is usually [o]/[ɔ] depending on dialect and often reduced in fast speech.
nå has a long vowel: [noː].
fjell: [fjɛlː] (double L is long; the J is audible).
solen/sola: [ˈsuːlən] / [ˈsuːlɑ].
går ned: [ɡoːr neː].
dagslys: [ˈdɑɡslyːs]. Exact sounds vary by dialect; these are broad Bokmål-friendly cues.

Can I move for å få mer dagslys to another position?

Yes. Common options:

Fronted: For å få mer dagslys, planlegger vi å nå fjelltoppen før solen går ned.
After the infinitive phrase: Vi planlegger å nå fjelltoppen for å få mer dagslys før solen går ned. All are grammatical; choose what reads most clearly in context.

Could I replace før solen går ned with a noun phrase?

Yes: før solnedgang = “before sunset,” or with a deadline sense, innen solnedgang = “by sunset.”

Is there any ambiguity with nå meaning “now” vs “reach”?

Norwegian has two nå:

Verb å nå = “to reach.”
Adverb nå = “now.” Context disambiguates. You could even have both: Vi planlegger nå å nå fjelltoppen … (“We are now planning to reach the summit …”).

Are there natural alternatives to the ending for å få mer dagslys?

Yes, depending on nuance:

… for å utnytte dagslyset bedre (to make better use of the daylight)
… sånn at vi får mer tid i dagslys (so that we have more time in daylight)
… for å ha mest mulig dagslys (to have as much daylight as possible)