Questions & Answers about Jeg skjærer ost til kveldsmaten.
What does the preposition til express here?
In this sentence, til expresses purpose, best read as for (the purpose of). It does not mean to (direction) or until (time) here.
- Purpose: Jeg skjærer ost til kveldsmaten = cutting cheese for the evening meal.
- Direction: Jeg går til skolen = going to school.
- Time: Butikken er åpen til klokka åtte = open until eight.
Why is kveldsmaten in the definite form? Could I say kveldsmat instead?
- kveldsmaten (definite) points to a specific, known meal — typically tonight’s supper.
- kveldsmat (indefinite) is more generic, like saying for supper in general. Both are possible; choose definite when a particular evening meal is in mind, and indefinite for a general statement or habit. Examples:
- Jeg skjærer ost til kveldsmaten (for tonight’s supper).
- Jeg skjærer ofte ost til kveldsmat (habitually, for supper).
Can I say til kvelds instead of til kveldsmaten?
Yes. til kvelds is a very common, idiomatic alternative meaning for supper/for the evening meal, without a definite ending. Nuance:
- til kvelds = general meal-time adverbial, informal and frequent in everyday speech.
- til kveldsmaten = a specific supper (e.g., the one you’re about to eat).
Why is there an s in kveldsmaten?