Learn Hardcore Norwegian: Lederen ber om et klart forslag før fredag. - The leader asks for a clear suggestion before Friday.

Hun ber om et glass vann. = She asks for a glass of water. (request)
Hun spør hva klokka er. = She asks what time it is. (question)
Han spør etter sjefen. = He asks for/is asking after the boss (inquires about the boss), not requesting something of the boss.

Why do we need om after ber?

Because be om is a fixed combination. Patterns you’ll use:

be om noe (ask for something)
be noen om noe (ask someone for something)
be noen om å gjøre noe (ask someone to do something) Without om, it’s ungrammatical: ber et klart forslag is wrong.

What are the principal forms of å be?

å be – ber – ba – har bedt. Imperative: be! Example: I går ba lederen om et klart forslag, og nå har han bedt oss om å levere det.

Why is it et klart forslag and not en klar forslag?

forslag is neuter, so it takes et (indefinite article). Adjectives with neuter indefinite nouns take -t, so klar → klart: et klart forslag.

Common gender indefinite: en klar plan
Plural/definite: klare (e.g., de klare forslagene, det klare forslaget)

Is klart here an adjective or an adverb?

Adjective. It’s the neuter form of klar agreeing with forslag. As an adverb, klart can mean “clearly” or “of course” (e.g., Klart!), but not in this sentence.

Could I use tydelig instead of klar?

Sometimes, but nuance differs:

klar/klart: unambiguous, well-defined, explicit (great with rules, plans, proposals).
tydelig: clear to perceive/understand; often about speech, handwriting, visibility, or obviousness. So et klart forslag emphasizes being unambiguous; et tydelig forslag emphasizes how plainly it’s expressed.

Why is it Lederen (definite) and not En leder (indefinite)?

Lederen (“the leader/manager”) refers to a specific, known person in the context (e.g., the manager at work). En leder introduces an unspecified person (“a manager”). Norwegian often uses the definite form for known roles in a shared context.

How does “double definiteness” work if I add an adjective before leder?

With preposed adjectives or demonstratives, you use both the article and the noun’s definite ending:

No adjective: lederen = the leader
With adjective: den strenge lederen = the strict leader
With demonstrative alone: den lederen = that leader

Can I say sjefen instead of lederen?

Yes. sjefen = “the boss,” more informal and common in everyday talk. lederen = “the leader/manager,” more formal/organizational.

Does før fredag include Friday, or is the deadline earlier?

før fredag means strictly before Friday (not on Friday). For “by Friday” (deadline including Friday), use innen fredag or senest fredag. You may hear til fredag colloquially, but it can be regionally ambiguous; innen/senest is safer.

How do I say “on Friday” (a point in time), not “before Friday”?

Use på fredag: Lederen ber om et klart forslag på fredag = The manager asks for a clear proposal on Friday. Days of the week are not capitalized in Norwegian.

Can I move før fredag to the front? What happens to word order?

Yes. Norwegian keeps V2 word order:

Neutral: Lederen ber om et klart forslag før fredag.
Fronted time: Før fredag ber lederen om et klart forslag. No comma is needed after the fronted adverbial in a main clause.

How do I say “asks them to send a clear proposal before Friday”?

Lederen ber dem om å sende et klart forslag før fredag. Pattern: be noen om å gjøre noe.

Any pronunciation tips for tricky parts like før, ber, and forslag?

ø in før is like British English “bird” or French eu in peur.
e in ber is a long, clear “eh” sound (don’t rhyme it with English “bear”).
In forslag, many accents merge rs into a retroflex “sh”-like sound; the final g is typically pronounced.

How would I negate this without changing the intended meaning?

Be careful: ikke før fredag often implies “not until Friday.”

Lederen ber ikke om et klart forslag før fredag. = He won’t ask for it before Friday (implies the asking happens on/after Friday).
If you mean “He asks for a clear proposal, but not before Friday,” say: Lederen ber om et klart forslag, men ikke før fredag.