Hvor lenge varer filmen?

the film

Breakdown of Hvor lenge varer filmen?

• hvor lenge: how long
• vare: to last

Questions & Answers about Hvor lenge varer filmen?

What does the verb in the sentence, varer, mean and how is it conjugated?

Å vare means to last. Conjugation (Bokmål):

• Present: varer (the form in the sentence)
• Preterite (past): varte
• Present perfect: har vart Example: Filmen varte i to timer = The film lasted two hours.

Why is it lenge and not lang?

• lenge is an adverb meaning long (in time). It modifies a verb or a state/duration: Hvor lenge varer …?
• lang is an adjective meaning long (in length/extent). It modifies a noun: Hvor lang er …? So use lenge with verbs about duration, and lang with a noun plus a linking verb like er.

Is Hvor lang er filmen? also correct to ask about duration?

Yes, it’s very common and natural in Norwegian to ask about runtime with Hvor lang er filmen? Even though lang literally refers to physical length, context (a film) makes the duration reading the default. Both Hvor lenge varer filmen? and Hvor lang er filmen? are idiomatic.

Can I say Hvor lenge er filmen?

Avoid that. lenge pairs with verbs that express an action/state over time (like varer). With er, you want the adjective: Hvor lang er filmen?