Jeg drikker kaffe for ofte.

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Breakdown of Jeg drikker kaffe for ofte.

• drikke: to drink
• kaffen: the coffee
• for ofte: too often

Questions & Answers about Jeg drikker kaffe for ofte.

What does the word “for” mean in “for ofte”?

Here, for means too (as in “too often”). It’s a degree/intensity marker used before adjectives and adverbs:

• for mye = too much
• for liten = too small
• for sent = too late
• for ofte = too often

It’s the same spelling as the preposition for (“for”), but the meaning is different and clear from context. It’s also not the for in for å (“in order to”).

Is the word order “Jeg drikker kaffe for ofte” natural? Could I also say “Jeg drikker for ofte kaffe” or “Jeg drikker ofte kaffe”?

All three are possible, with slight differences in flow/focus:

• Jeg drikker ofte kaffe. Neutral, very common. “Often” sits in the normal adverb slot (after the finite verb, before the object).
• Jeg drikker for ofte kaffe. Same pattern as above, but with “too often.” Also very natural.
• Jeg drikker kaffe for ofte. Also idiomatic; putting the frequency at the end can give it end-focus (“…too often”).

Avoid attaching “for” to “kaffe.” Here, for modifies ofte, not the noun.

Why is there no article before “kaffe”?

Kaffe is a mass/uncountable noun when you mean coffee in general, so no article is needed: Jeg drikker kaffe. If you mean a specific serving, you can say:

• en kaffe = a coffee (a cup/serving, colloquial)
• kaffen = the coffee (a specific coffee you both know about)

What tense is “drikker”? Does it mean “I drink” or “I am drinking”?