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Hvilket program starter nå?

Hvilket program starter nå?
Which program starts now?
FromLesson 30inHardcore Norwegian

Breakdown of Hvilket program starter nå?

nå
now
starte
to start
programmet
the program
hvilket
which

Questions & Answers about Hvilket program starter nå?

Why is it hvilket and not hvilken or hvilke?

Because hvilket is the neuter singular form of “which/what.” The noun program is neuter, so you must use hvilket.

  • Common gender (m/f) singular: hvilken (e.g., hvilken kanal?)
  • Neuter singular: hvilket (e.g., hvilket program?)
  • Plural: hvilke (e.g., hvilke programmer?)
How do I know program is neuter, and what are its forms?

Dictionaries list it with the article et (neuter). Typical Bokmål forms:

  • Indefinite singular: et program
  • Definite singular: programmet
  • Indefinite plural: programmer (you may also see zero plural program)
  • Definite plural: programmene
Why is there no article after hvilket (why not hvilket et program)?
Interrogative determiners like hvilket replace the indefinite article. Just like in English you say “which program,” not “which a program,” in Norwegian you say hvilket program (not hvilket et program).
Can I say Hva program starter nå? instead?

No. Hva cannot directly modify a noun. To ask more openly you can say:

  • Hva slags program starter nå? (What kind of program starts now?)
Why does the verb come right after hvilket program?
Norwegian main clauses follow the V2 rule: the finite verb is in second position. The wh‑phrase hvilket program counts as the first element, so the verb starter must come next: Hvilket program starter …. The adverb nå goes after the verb.
Can nå go somewhere else in the sentence?

In main clauses, nå typically comes after the verb (and subject), so Hvilket program starter nå? is natural. You can add modifiers: Hvilket program starter akkurat nå? In embedded clauses both … som starter nå and … som nå starter are used: Jeg lurer på hvilket program som (nå) starter.

Is Hvilket program er det som starter nå? also correct?
Yes. That’s a common cleft construction for emphasis or clarity: “Which program is it that starts now?” It’s slightly more conversational but fully correct.
Can I use begynner instead of starter?

Yes: Hvilket program begynner nå?

  • starte and begynne overlap when something starts by itself: Programmet starter/begynner klokka åtte.
  • starte is also used transitively: Kan du starte programmet? (begynne programmet is odd.)
For TV/radio, are there other natural verbs?

Yes:

  • Hvilket program går nå (på TV)? = Which show is on now?
  • Hvilket program sendes nå? = Which program is being broadcast now? Use går/send es when you mean “is on,” not necessarily at the very start time.
Is hvilket closer to English “which” or “what”?
Formally it’s “which,” but Norwegian uses hvilket even when English would prefer “what”: English “What program is on now?” = Norwegian Hvilket program …? If you mean type rather than identity, use hva slags: Hva slags program starter nå?
How is the sentence pronounced?

Approximate guide (East Norwegian):

  • hvilket: [ˈvɪl-keht] (the h is silent in hv-; the v is light, almost [ʋ])
  • program: [pru-ˈgram] (the o sounds like English “oo/u”)
  • starter: [ˈstɑːr-ter] with a retroflex rt [ʈ] in many dialects
  • nå: [noː] (long “oh”) Overall: falling intonation (wh‑questions usually fall).
How do I make this an indirect question?

Use an embedded clause with som because the wh‑phrase is the subject:

  • Kan du si hvilket program som starter nå?
  • Jeg lurer på hvilket program som starter nå.
What is the subject here?

The subject is the unknown program itself: hvilket program. Verbs don’t change for person/number in Norwegian, so it’s simply starter. Compare:

  • Statement: Programmet starter nå.
  • Question: Hvilket program starter nå?
Does Norwegian use the present tense for near-future here?

Yes. Present tense with a time adverb can mean something happening right now or very soon:

  • Programmet starter nå.
  • Programmet starter klokka åtte i kveld.
Could this sentence be about a computer program?

Context decides. program can be a TV/radio show or software. If you need to disambiguate:

  • TV/radio: TV-program / radioprogram
  • Software: (data)program / programvare Example: Hvilket TV-program starter nå? vs Hvilket program starter nå på PC-en?
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