Learn Hardcore Norwegian: Bortsett fra Anna kommer alle i kveld. - Except for Anna, everyone is coming tonight.

Norwegian main clauses follow the V2 rule: the finite verb must be in second position. Because the adverbial phrase Bortsett fra Anna is placed first (position 1), the verb kommer must come next (position 2), and then the subject alle: Bortsett fra Anna | kommer | alle | i kveld.
If you start with the subject instead, you get the neutral order: Alle kommer i kveld (bortsett fra Anna).

Do I need a comma after Bortsett fra Anna?

No. After a short fronted phrase like Bortsett fra Anna, you normally do not add a comma in Norwegian: Bortsett fra Anna kommer alle i kveld.
Commas are used after fronted subordinate clauses, not after simple prepositional phrases like this.

Can the except-phrase go at the end instead?

Yes, very natural: Alle kommer i kveld bortsett fra Anna.
This version is common and often slightly more neutral. You generally don’t need a comma before bortsett fra here.

What exactly is bortsett fra grammatically?

It’s a fixed multiword preposition meaning “except (for).” Historically, bortsett is a participle of “to set aside,” but in modern usage you should treat bortsett fra as a single prepositional unit. It’s not hyphenated.

Are there synonyms for bortsett fra?

unntatt: Unntatt Anna kommer alle i kveld. (a bit more formal)
utenom: Utenom Anna kommer alle i kveld.
alle uten Anna: Alle uten Anna kommer i kveld. (very common)
med unntak av: Med unntak av Anna kommer alle i kveld. (formal)
All of these can mean “except for,” with minor style differences.

If I use a pronoun after fra, which form should I use?

Use the object form after a preposition:

bortsett fra meg/deg/ham(=han)/henne/oss/dere/dem
Note: Both ham and han are used as object forms of “he” in Bokmål; ham is more formal/traditional, han is very common in speech.

Could I say uten instead of bortsett fra?

Yes in structures like Alle uten Anna kommer i kveld or Alle kommer i kveld uten Anna.
At the very start, Uten Anna kommer alle i kveld is possible but can sound more like “without Anna (being present), everyone comes,” not the standard “except Anna.” For unambiguous exclusion, bortsett fra or alle uten are safe choices.

Why is it present tense kommer when it’s about the future?

Norwegian often uses the present tense for scheduled/arranged near-future events: De kommer i kveld = “They’re coming tonight.”
Alternatives and nuances:

skal komme: intention/plan/arrangement (more explicit planning)
kommer til å komme: prediction/likelihood, but sounds heavy here because of the double “komme”; better: De kommer til å komme i kveld (still a bit clunky)
vil is rarely used as a neutral future marker; it usually expresses willingness/volition.

Can I move i kveld to other places?

Yes. Common options:

Bortsett fra Anna kommer alle i kveld.
I kveld kommer alle bortsett fra Anna. (fronted time = emphasis on “tonight” + V2 inversion)
Alle kommer i kveld (bortsett fra Anna).
Word order affects emphasis but not basic meaning.

Is i kveld the right way to say “tonight”? What about i natt?

i kveld = this evening/tonight (evening period)
i natt = tonight (the night-time, when it’s dark/after you go to bed)
For habits/generics, use om kvelden/på kvelden = “in the evenings.”
i aften exists but is formal/literary; everyday speech prefers i kveld.

Does kommer imply “coming here” (to the speaker)?

Yes, if no destination is mentioned, komme usually implies coming to the speaker’s location or event. If it’s to a different place, you would specify it (e.g., kommer til Oslo) or use drar/går for “go.”

What’s the difference between alle, alle sammen, and alle andre?

alle = everyone/all (context decides the group)
alle sammen = “all of them,” adds emphasis on the whole group
alle andre = everyone else (explicitly excluding the mentioned person)
You could also say: Alle andre kommer i kveld. (implies “except Anna,” if she’s the one being contrasted)

Is the name spelling Anna important? Could it be Anne?

Both are common Norwegian names but are different names. Use the person’s actual name. The grammar doesn’t change.

Any pronunciation tips for this sentence?

Bortsett: in Eastern Norwegian, rt often becomes a retroflex [ʈ], so roughly “borʈ-sett.”
kommer: often “kom-mer” with a long m; the “o” like English “o” in “off.”
i kveld: the “d” in kveld is usually silent: “kvell.”
Anna: both a’s like the a in “father,” with a long n: “AN-na.”
Exact sounds vary by dialect; these are broad Bokmål/Eastern hints.

Should I ever write bortsett ifra?

Standard Bokmål is bortsett fra. ifra exists as a variant of fra in some styles/dialects, but bortsett fra is the safe, standard form.

How would this look in Nynorsk?

Nynorsk: Bortsett frå Anna kjem alle i kveld.
Key changes: frå for fra, and kjem for kommer.

Can I use this structure inside a subordinate clause?

Avoid V2 in subordinate clauses. Prefer: … at alle kommer i kveld bortsett fra Anna, not … at bortsett fra Anna kommer alle i kveld.
In subclauses, keep the normal subclause word order (subject before the finite verb).