Breakdown of På kurset velger jeg to fag: norsk og historie.
jeg
I
og
and
på
in
to
two
velge
to choose
historien
the history
kurset
the course
norsk
Norwegian
faget
the subject
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Questions & Answers about På kurset velger jeg to fag: norsk og historie.
Why does the verb come before the subject in På kurset velger jeg…?
Norwegian main clauses are V2 (verb-second). When you front a non-subject like På kurset, the finite verb must be in second position, so you get velger before jeg. If you start with the subject, it’s Jeg velger…—same meaning, different emphasis.
Why på kurset and not i kurset?
Use på with institutions/activities you attend: på kurset, på skolen, på universitetet. I is for being inside something or within the content: i timen (in the class/lesson), i kurset (when talking about material covered in the course). Here, attendance/setting = på.
Why is kurset definite? Could I say på et kurs?
Use the definite when a specific, known course is meant (på kurset = on that/the course). Use på et kurs for an unspecified course (“on a course”). Forms of kurs:
- et kurs (a course)
- kurset (the course)
- kurs (courses)
- kursene (the courses)
What exactly does fag mean, and how is it different from kurs or emne?
- fag = subject/discipline (e.g., Norwegian, history, math).
- kurs = a specific class/course you take (a taught unit).
- emne = often a university “module”/course unit. So to fag means “two subjects.” Depending on context, you might also hear people say they take to kurs or to emner.
Why is there no article before norsk and historie? Should it be norsken or historien?
When naming school subjects or languages, Norwegian usually uses the bare noun: norsk, historie. Definite forms (norsken, historien) would refer to a specific instance (e.g., a particular class) and sound odd here.
Is fag both singular and plural? How does its plural work?
Yes, fag is a neuter noun whose singular and plural are identical in the indefinite:
- et fag (singular)
- faget (definite singular)
- fag (plural)
- fagene (definite plural) Hence to fag is correct.
Does to here mean the English preposition “to”?
No. to means “two.” The preposition “to” in English is usually til in Norwegian.
Is velger present tense? How do I say it in other tenses?
Yes. Conjugation: å velge – velger – valgte – har valgt (infinitive – present – preterite – present perfect). Future: skal velge / kommer til å velge.
Could I use tar instead of velger?
Often, yes. velger = choose/decide; tar = take/enroll. Jeg tar to fag means you’re taking two courses; jeg velger to fag emphasizes the act of choosing them.
Why isn’t norsk capitalized?
In Norwegian, names of languages, nationalities, and school subjects are not capitalized unless part of a formal course title. So norsk, historie are lowercase.
Can I move på kurset to the end? Does it change the meaning?
Yes: Jeg velger to fag på kurset: norsk og historie. Meaning is the same. Fronting På kurset puts extra focus on the course context.
How is the colon used here? Could I use something else?
The colon introduces the announced list (the two subjects). A dash can work in informal writing (to fag – norsk og historie). Using only a comma after to fag is less clear; the colon is standard and preferred.
How do I make a yes/no question from this?
Invert verb and subject: Velger du to fag på kurset? For a wh-question: Hvilke fag velger du?
Is there a difference between og and å that I should watch out for?
Yes. og = “and.” å = the infinitive marker (“to” before a verb). They’re pronounced similarly in fast speech, but spelling and function differ.