Vi tar et nytt kurs i norsk uttale.

Word
Vi tar et nytt kurs i norsk uttale.
Meaning
We are taking a new course in Norwegian pronunciation.
Part of speech
sentence
Pronunciation
Course
Hardcore Norwegian
Lesson
Lesson 31
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Questions & Answers about Vi tar et nytt kurs i norsk uttale.

Why is it tar here—can’t I use other verbs like gjør or har?

Norwegian uses the collocation å ta et kurs (“to take a course”). More natural options:

  • ta et kurs = take a course (very common)
  • gå på (et) kurs = attend a course
  • melde (seg) på et kurs = sign up/enrol in a course
  • For the subject itself, you can also say: lære norsk uttale / studere norsk uttale
Can the present tense Vi tar refer to the future (a plan)?

Yes. Norwegian present often covers scheduled/near-future actions.

  • Vi tar et kurs neste uke. = We’re taking a course next week (arranged).
  • Vi skal ta et kurs neste uke. = We will/are going to take a course (plan/intention). Both are fine; skal makes the intention explicit.
Why the article et (not en/ei) with kurs?

Because kurs is a neuter noun.

  • Singular: et kurs (indef.), kurset (def.)
  • Plural: kurs (indef.), kursene (def.) Hence: et nytt kurs.
Why is it nytt and not ny?

Adjectives agree with noun gender/number. ny declines as:

  • en ny bil (m/f)
  • et nytt kurs (neuter)
  • nye kurs (plural) / det nye kurset (def. sing.)
Why isn’t norsk capitalized?
In Norwegian, names of languages and national adjectives are not capitalized unless they start a sentence. So norsk, engelsk, spansk, etc.
Why norsk and not norskt or norske before uttale?

Adjectives ending in -sk don’t take a neuter -t in the indefinite. Pattern:

  • Indefinite singular: norsk (both common and neuter)
  • Definite singular/plural: norske Examples:
  • norsk uttale (indef. sg.)
  • den norske uttalen (def. sg.)
  • norske dialekter (plural) Form like norskt is wrong.
Why the preposition i in kurs i norsk uttale? Could it be om or på?
  • i marks the subject area: et kurs i norsk uttale = a course in Norwegian pronunciation (you learn it).
  • om means about: et kurs om norsk uttale = a course about Norwegian pronunciation (meta/overview).
  • på is used for “in [language]” as medium: undervisning på norsk = instruction in Norwegian. So you could have et kurs i uttale, holdt på norsk (taught in Norwegian).
Could I say norskkurs or uttalekurs instead?

Yes, both are common compounds:

  • et norskkurs = a Norwegian course (general)
  • et uttalekurs (i norsk) = a pronunciation course (in Norwegian) Your sentence focuses specifically: et kurs i norsk uttale (spotlights the topic “Norwegian pronunciation”). Using compounds is very natural in Norwegian writing.
Where do negations/adverbs go in this sentence?

Main-clause word order is Verb-Second (V2):

  • Basic: Vi tar et nytt kurs i norsk uttale.
  • Negation after the verb: Vi tar ikke et nytt kurs i norsk uttale.
  • If you front an adverbial, the verb still comes second: I morgen tar vi et nytt kurs …
  • With time/frequency: Vi tar ofte et kurs …, Vi tar et kurs nå.
How is the verb å ta conjugated?
  • Infinitive: å ta
  • Present: tar
  • Preterite: tok
  • Perfect: har tatt Examples: I fjor tok vi et kurs. / Vi har tatt flere kurs.
How do I say it in the plural (“courses”)?

Use the invariant plural of kurs and plural adjective nye:

  • Vi tar to nye kurs i norsk uttale.
  • De tilbyr flere kurs i norsk uttale.
What about the noun uttale—is it countable, and what’s its gender?
  • Gender: common (m/f): en uttale (def. uttalen).
  • Often used as a mass/abstract noun: norsk uttale (the concept in general).
  • Plural exists (uttaler) but is less common and used for distinct pronunciations: to ulike uttaler av ordet.
Any quick pronunciation tips for this sentence?
  • Vi: long “ee.”
  • tar: long “a”; the r may influence the previous sound (dialectal).
  • et: short “e,” very light final -t.
  • nytt / uttale: double t = long t.
  • u in uttale/kurs is a fronted “oo” (like the French “u”).
  • norsk: the rs typically merges into a retroflex “sh”-like sound in many dialects.
If I mean “another course” rather than “a new course,” what should I say?
  • et annet kurs = a different course (contrast with a specific other one).
  • enda et kurs = one more/additional course. et nytt kurs emphasizes newness, not necessarily contrast or addition.
Can I drop the article and say “Vi tar nytt kurs”?
No. With countable singular nouns you normally need the article: et kurs. You can drop the article with uncountables or professions, but not here.
Can I move i norsk uttale somewhere else for emphasis?

Yes, but keep V2:

  • Neutral: Vi tar et nytt kurs i norsk uttale.
  • Fronted focus: I norsk uttale tar vi et nytt kurs. (possible, more marked/emphatic) You can also place time adverbials at the end: … i norsk uttale nå.