Learn Hardcore Norwegian: Hun smiler som om alt var lett. - She smiles as if everything were easy.

Som om means “as if / as though” and introduces a subordinate clause that describes an appearance, comparison, or imagined situation. It often suggests that what follows isn’t literally true, just the way it seems.

Why is it var (past) and not er (present) after som om?

Norwegian commonly uses the past tense (preterite) after som om to mark unreality/irrealis, much like English uses the subjunctive “were” in “as if everything were easy.” So var signals that the speaker isn’t claiming it’s actually true, just how it looks.

Can I say Hun smiler som om alt er lett?

You’ll hear it, but it changes the nuance. With er, it can sound more like a real-state description (or it’s tied to perception verbs: “Det ser ut som om alt er lett”). For the classic counterfactual “as if,” var is the natural choice. If it really is easy, you’d more plainly say: Hun smiler fordi alt er lett.

What is the word order inside the som om clause?

Subordinate-clause word order: Subject before the finite verb. Hence alt var lett (S–V–Adj). In the main clause Norwegian is V2, but in subordinate clauses it’s S–V.

Do I need a comma before som om?

No comma is needed here: Hun smiler som om alt var lett. You’d use commas only if the som om clause is parenthetical: Hun smiler, som om alt var lett, selv i motgang.

What does lett mean here, and why that form?

Here lett means “easy.” It’s a predicative adjective agreeing with neuter singular alt; neuter singular takes the -t form. For this adjective the base and neuter forms look the same:

masc/fem: lett
neuter: lett
plural: lette

Could I use enkelt instead of lett?

Yes. Alt var enkelt is fine and means roughly the same. Lett leans toward “easy/effortless,” while enkelt leans toward “simple/straightforward,” but in many contexts they’re interchangeable.

Can I drop om and say Hun smiler som alt var lett?

No. For “as if,” Norwegian needs the full som om. Som alone is just “as/like” in comparisons (e.g., Hun smiler som ei sol).

Is som at acceptable?

Not in standard written Bokmål. You may hear som at in some dialects, but the recommended form in writing is som om.

Can I shift the time in the som om clause?

Yes. To refer to an earlier unreal situation, use the past perfect: Hun smiler som om alt hadde vært lett (“as if everything had been easy”).

What’s the function of the som om clause in this sentence?

It’s an adverbial clause of manner/comparison, modifying smiler. It describes what her smile suggests or resembles.

Does Norwegian have a special subjunctive form like English “were”?

Not in everyday use. Norwegian typically uses the preterite (here, var) to express irrealis/counterfactual meaning after som om.

Is there a variant with skulle to emphasize unreality?

Yes, you can hear: Hun smiler som om alt skulle være lett. It adds a nuance like “as if everything were supposed to be easy,” often with a skeptical or ironic tone.

Any pronunciation tips for som om and the sentence as a whole?

In many accents, som om flows together: [som-om]. A simple East-Norwegian approximation:

Hun [hʉn], smiler [ˈsmiːlər], som om [sɔm ɔm], alt [ɑlt], var [vɑr], lett [letː].
The double consonant in lett is audibly longer.

Bokmål vs Nynorsk: any differences here?

Mainly the pronoun: Bokmål Hun, Nynorsk/dialect Ho. The rest (smiler som om alt var lett) works in both standards.