Jeg innrømmer at jeg kom for sent.

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Breakdown of Jeg innrømmer at jeg kom for sent.

• at: that
• komme: to arrive
• for sent: too late

Questions & Answers about Jeg innrømmer at jeg kom for sent.

Do I need the word at here, or can I say “Jeg innrømmer jeg kom for sent”?

Use at. With the verb innrømme (to admit), the complement clause normally takes the subordinator at (that): Jeg innrømmer at …. Dropping at here sounds nonstandard. If you don’t want a that-clause, you can use a pronoun object instead: Jeg innrømmer det.

Why is it at jeg kom and not at kom jeg?

Norwegian subordinate clauses (like the at-clause) are not V2. The finite verb does not move in front of the subject. So you say at jeg kom, not at kom jeg. Main clauses are V2 (verb in second position), subordinate clauses are not.

Where would I put ikke (not) in the at-clause?

In subordinate clauses, ikke comes before the finite verb:

• Jeg innrømmer at jeg ikke kom for sent. (I admit that I did not arrive late.) In a main clause, it comes after the verb: Jeg kom ikke for sent.

What does for mean in for sent?

Here for is an intensifier meaning “too,” not the preposition “for.” So for sent = “too late.” You can strengthen it with altfor: altfor sent = “far too late.”

Why is it and not ?