Breakdown of Jeg skriver en handleliste før jeg går til butikken.
jeg
I
en
a
gå
to go
til
to
butikken
the store
skrive
to write
før
before
handlelisten
the shopping list
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Questions & Answers about Jeg skriver en handleliste før jeg går til butikken.
What does the word før mean, and what does it do to word order?
Før means before and is a subordinating conjunction. It introduces a subordinate clause with normal subordinate word order: subject before the verb. So it’s før jeg går, not før går jeg.
Why is the present tense used for both skriver and går if this can be about the future?
Norwegian often uses the present for near future and for routines/habits. The sentence can mean a regular habit or a plan later today. If you want to be explicit about the future, you can add skal where needed (e.g., Jeg skal skrive … før jeg drar …), but simple present is usually most natural here.
Could I say drar instead of går?
Yes, with a change in nuance. Går means walking specifically. Drar is go/leave (mode-neutral). If you’re not focusing on walking, før jeg drar til butikken is very natural.
Which preposition is correct with butikk: til, på, or i?
- Movement to: til (standard): Jeg går/drar til butikken.
- Everyday speech: på is very common: Jeg drar på butikken.
- Location inside: i: Jeg er i butikken.
Saying går i butikken is usually “walks inside the store,” not “goes to the store.”
Why is it butikken (definite) and not just butikk?
After a preposition, a countable singular noun needs an article: til butikken (to the store) or til en butikk (to a store). Bare til butikk is ungrammatical. The definite is used when the store is understood/generic (e.g., your local store).
Is på butikken really correct?
Yes. It’s very common in everyday Norwegian to say dra/gå på butikken for “go to the store,” even though til butikken is the neutral “to” and i butikken is “in.” Usage varies by region and formality.
Could I say før jeg skal gå til butikken?
Grammatically yes, but it’s usually heavier than you need. Prefer før jeg går til butikken. Use skal if you want to stress a plan/obligation: før jeg skal dra (before I’m supposed/planning to go).
Where does negation (ikke) go in this sentence?
- Main clause: after the finite verb: Jeg skriver ikke en handleliste …
- Subordinate clause (after før): ikke comes before the finite verb: … før jeg ikke går … (this exact meaning is odd, but the placement is correct). In general: subclauses place ikke before the verb; main clauses place it after.
Can I move the før-clause to the beginning?
Yes: Før jeg går til butikken, skriver jeg en handleliste. When a non-subject element comes first, the main clause follows the V2 rule: the verb skriver precedes the subject jeg.
Do I need a comma before før?
Not necessarily. Modern usage often omits it: Jeg skriver … før jeg går … If you follow the “start-comma” system, you may add one: …, før jeg går … Just be consistent within a text.
Why is handleliste written as one word?
Norwegian writes compound nouns as a single word. Handle (to shop) + liste (list) = handleliste. Don’t split it.
Is ei handleliste also acceptable?
Yes. Liste is a feminine noun in Bokmål, so both en handleliste and ei handleliste are correct. The definite forms are handlelisten (masculine style) or handlelista (feminine style). Keep your style consistent.
Can I use innkjøpsliste instead of handleliste?
Yes. Innkjøpsliste is a common synonym (often a bit more formal/neutral). Meaning is the same.
Is there a difference between skriver (en) handleliste, skriver opp (en) handleliste, and lager en handleliste?
All are fine:
- skriver = write
- skriver opp/ned = write down
- lager = make/create
In everyday speech, lager en handleliste is very common.
What’s the core word order of the sentence?
Main clause S–V–O: Jeg (S) skriver (V) en handleliste (O).
Subordinate clause after før: jeg (S) går (V) til butikken (adverbial).
What’s the difference between før and først?
Før = before (subordinating conjunction): før jeg går.
Først = first (adverb): Først skriver jeg en handleliste, så går jeg til butikken.
Any quick pronunciation tips?
Approximate guides (Eastern Norwegian):
- jeg ≈ yai
- skriver ≈ SKREE-ver
- handleliste ≈ HAN-de-lee-steh
- før ≈ like English “fur” but with a more rounded vowel
- går ≈ gohr (long o)
- butikken ≈ boo-TIK-ken
Should jeg ever be capitalized in the middle of a sentence?
No. Jeg is only capitalized at the start of a sentence (or for stylistic reasons like titles).