Breakdown of Han innrømmer at planen ikke var klar.
være
to be
han
he
at
that
ikke
not
planen
the plan
klar
clear
innrømme
to admit
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Questions & Answers about Han innrømmer at planen ikke var klar.
Why is the main verb present (innrømmer) while the verb in the clause is past (var)?
Norwegian freely mixes tenses across clauses to reflect time. He is admitting now (present), about a state that existed earlier (past).
- If the admission happened in the past too: Han innrømmet at planen ikke var klar.
- If the plan is still not ready now: Han innrømmer at planen ikke er klar.
Why is it at planen ikke var and not at planen var ikke?
Because in subordinate clauses, adverbs like ikke come before the finite verb. Pattern:
- Main clause: Subject – finite verb – ikke – rest (e.g., Planen var ikke klar.)
- Subordinate clause: at
- Subject – ikke – finite verb – rest (e.g., at planen ikke var klar)
Is Han innrømmer at planen var ikke klar ever acceptable?
No, not in standard Norwegian. In a subordinate clause introduced by at, ikke must come before the finite verb: at planen ikke var klar.
Do I need the word at here? Can I drop it like English sometimes drops that?
In standard written Norwegian you keep at. In casual speech it can be dropped after many reporting verbs, but after innrømme it’s less common and can sound abrupt. Safe choice: keep at.
Could I use som instead of at?
No. At introduces a content clause (what he admits). Som introduces a relative clause and cannot replace at here.
Why is it planen (the definite form) and not en plan?
Definite planen is used when the plan is known/specific from context. Use the indefinite to introduce a new, unknown plan.
- Indefinite: en plan
- Definite: planen
- Plural: planer / planene
How does the adjective agree in var klar?
Predicative adjectives agree with the subject’s gender/number:
- Utrum/common singular: Planen var klar.
- Neuter singular: Huset var klart.
- Plural: Planene var klare.
What’s the difference between klar and ferdig here?
- Klar can mean ready or clear. With plans, it often means ready/prepared or clear/defined.
- Ferdig means finished/completed. So ikke klar suggests not ready/defined; ikke ferdig is not completed.
What’s the nuance between var klar and ble klar?
- var klar = was in a ready state at that time (state).
- ble klar = became ready (change into that state). Example: Planen ble klar i går, men den var ikke klar før det.
Can I express “admit doing X” without an at-clause?
Yes, two common patterns:
- Han innrømmer at han jukset. (most neutral)
- Han innrømmer å ha jukset. (more formal/literary; perfect infinitive because the action is prior) Avoid bare å jukse for past acts; use å ha jukset.
Do I need a comma before at?
No. Modern Norwegian normally does not use a comma before at when it introduces a content clause that completes the verb: Han innrømmer at … (no comma).
Can I front the subordinate clause for emphasis?
Yes. If you place the at-clause first, the main clause still follows V2 word order:
- At planen ikke var klar, innrømmer han.
Are there synonyms for innrømme with different tones?
Yes:
- vedgå/vedgår: formal/literary admit.
- erkjenne/erkjenner: formal, often used in official contexts.
- tilstå/tilstår: confess (often crimes/serious wrongdoing). Innrømme is the neutral, everyday choice.
How would I say “had not been ready” (past perfect) inside the clause?
Use hadde vært:
- Han innrømmer at planen ikke hadde vært klar da møtet startet.
Where can I put ikke with other verbs or modifiers?
- Main clause: Planen var ikke helt klar.
- Subordinate clause: at planen ikke har vært klar (negation before the finite verb har)
- With degree adverbs: at planen ikke var helt klar (ikke before helt and the adjective).
Any quick pronunciation tips?
- innrømmer: ø is a rounded front vowel (like German ö); stress the first syllable: INN-røm-mer.
- planen/klar: long a; trilled/tapped r in most dialects.
- ikke: pronounced roughly IK-ke.