Questions & Answers about Jeg har nettopp sendt en melding til sjefen.
Why is it har sendt (present perfect) and not sendte (simple past)?
Both are possible with nettopp.
- Jeg har nettopp sendt … highlights that the action is very recent and relevant now.
- Jeg sendte nettopp … simply places the action in the (very) recent past. Use the simple past with explicit past-time adverbs (i går, for fem minutter siden). Don’t combine present perfect with those.
Where does nettopp go in the sentence?
After the finite verb in main clauses. Here the finite verb is har, so: Jeg har nettopp sendt …. With a simple past verb, it goes after the verb: Jeg sendte nettopp ….
Is there a difference between nettopp, akkurat, and nå nettopp?
- nettopp and akkurat both mean just (now). Akkurat can sound a bit more colloquial in some areas.
- nå nettopp means just now and emphasizes immediacy.
- nettopp can also mean exactly/indeed as a reply: Nettopp! (not the meaning here).
Can I say Jeg har nettopp sendt sjefen en melding?
Yes. Two natural patterns:
- Jeg har nettopp sendt sjefen en melding. (indirect object before the direct object)
- Jeg har nettopp sendt en melding til sjefen. (with til + recipient) With pronouns, til + pronoun is very common: Jeg har sendt en melding til ham/henne. The double-object version also works: Jeg har sendt ham/henne en melding.
Why is it sjefen (the boss) and not sjef?