Jeg skriver en e-post samtidig som jeg drikker kaffe.

I write an email while I drink coffee.

Breakdown of Jeg skriver en e-post samtidig som jeg drikker kaffe.

• jeg: I
• en: a
• drikke: to drink
• skrive: to write

Questions & Answers about Jeg skriver en e-post samtidig som jeg drikker kaffe.

Why is it Jeg skriver and not something like “I am writing” with a special progressive form?

Norwegian usually uses the simple present for ongoing actions. Jeg skriver naturally means “I am writing (right now).” Don’t say Jeg er å skrive (that’s ungrammatical). If you want to emphasize the ongoing process, you can say:

• Jeg holder på å skrive (en e-post).
• Jeg er i ferd med å skrive (en e-post).

Can I replace samtidig som with mens?

Yes. Mens is shorter and very common: Jeg skriver en e-post mens jeg drikker kaffe.
Nuance: mens can also mean “whereas,” while samtidig som focuses clearly on simultaneity. In everyday speech, mens is often the most natural choice.

Do I have to repeat jeg in the second clause? Could I say “... samtidig som drikker kaffe”?

You must repeat the subject. Each finite clause in Norwegian needs its subject: ... samtidig som jeg drikker kaffe.
To avoid repetition, restructure: Samtidig skriver jeg en e-post og drikker kaffe.

What happens to word order if I start with the time clause?

If the subordinate clause comes first, the main clause inverts (V2 word order):

• Samtidig som jeg drikker kaffe, skriver jeg en e-post. Verb comes before the subject in the main clause after an initial clause or adverbial.