Learn Hardcore Norwegian: Hun skaffer utstyr til kurset. - She obtains equipment for the course.

å skaffe: to obtain/procure; to make sure something becomes available (method not specified).
å få: to receive; someone gives it to you. Hun får utstyr = she receives equipment.
å hente: to fetch/pick up; you go and get it and bring it back.
å kjøpe: to buy; money changes hands.
Also useful: å få tak i (to get hold of), å ordne (med) (to arrange), å sørge for (to see to/provide), å skaffe til veie (formal: to procure).

Do I need the reflexive seg after skaffer? What’s the difference between Hun skaffer utstyr and Hun skaffer seg utstyr?

Hun skaffer utstyr: she obtains/procures equipment (for someone/something, or in general).
Hun skaffer seg utstyr: she acquires equipment for herself (for her own use).
With til kurset, you typically don’t use seg, unless you mean she’s getting equipment for herself to use in that course: Hun skaffer seg utstyr til kurset.

Why is there no article before utstyr?

Utstyr is a mass/uncountable noun in Norwegian (like “equipment” in English).
You don’t say et utstyr. Use the bare form (utstyr) for an unspecified amount, and the definite form utstyret for “the equipment.”
Quantifiers: mye utstyr (a lot of equipment), noe utstyr (some equipment), alt utstyret (all the equipment).

What are the genders and forms of utstyr and kurs?

utstyr (neuter, mass noun): indefinite utstyr, definite utstyret. No normal plural.
kurs (neuter count noun): indefinite sg. et kurs; definite sg. kurset; indefinite pl. kurs; definite pl. kursene.

Why is it til kurset? Could I say for kurset or på kurset instead?

til is the natural choice for purpose/beneficiary: utstyr til kurset = equipment for the course.
for kurset is uncommon/awkward here; for often means “for (a period/price)” or “because of,” not purpose/recipient with nouns like this.
på kurset means “at the course/class,” not “for the course.”

Is the word order flexible? Can I say Hun skaffer til kurset utstyr?

Keep the noun and its modifier together: utstyr til kurset forms one chunk. The neutral word order is: Hun skaffer [utstyr til kurset].
Don’t split it as Hun skaffer til kurset utstyr (sounds odd).
You can front for emphasis: Til kurset skaffer hun utstyr or Utstyr til kurset skaffer hun, but the original is the most neutral.

How do I pronounce the sentence?

Rough guide (East Norwegian):
- Hun: like “hoon,” but with a front-rounded u (similar to French u).
- skaffer: “SKAH-fer” (double f = short vowel + long consonant).
- utstyr: “OOT-styur” (both u/y are front-rounded; y like German ü).
- til: “til.”
- kurset: “KOOR-sheh(t)” where rs merges to a retroflex “sh” sound.
Tip: in many accents, rs becomes a single retroflex sound, so kurs sounds like it has “sh.”

How do I change the tense of skaffe?

Infinitive: å skaffe
Present: skaffer — Hun skaffer utstyr til kurset.
Preterite: skaffet — Hun skaffet utstyr til kurset.
Present perfect: har skaffet — Hun har skaffet utstyr til kurset.
Future: skal skaffe / kommer til å skaffe — Hun skal skaffe utstyr til kurset.
Ongoing: holder på å skaffe — Hun holder på å skaffe utstyr til kurset.

Where does ikke go for negation?

In a main clause, ikke comes after the finite verb: Hun skaffer ikke utstyr til kurset.
With auxiliaries: Hun har ikke skaffet utstyr til kurset.
In yes/no questions with negation: Skaffer hun ikke utstyr til kurset?

How do I form a yes/no question from this sentence?

Invert subject and verb: Skaffer hun utstyr til kurset?
Possible answers: Ja, det gjør hun. / Nei, det gjør hun ikke.
Wh-questions: Hva skaffer hun til kurset? (What is she getting for the course?) Hvem skaffer utstyr til kurset? (Who is getting equipment for the course?)

Can I use the definite form utstyret instead of utstyr?

Yes, if you mean specific, known equipment: Hun skaffer utstyret til kurset (the designated equipment for that course).
The original with utstyr is unspecific: she’s obtaining some/any equipment needed.

Do I have to say til kurset, or could I say til et kurs?

til kurset = for the specific course already known in context (the course).
til et kurs = for a (non-specific) course.
If the context is general (e.g., her job), both are possible depending on whether a specific course is in mind.

Could I make a compound and say kursutstyr?

Yes. kursutstyr means “course equipment” as a general type. Example: Hun skaffer kursutstyr (she procures course equipment).
Use the compound for generic type; use utstyr til kurset when you mean equipment for a particular course.

Why is it Hun and not Henne?

What are good synonyms or paraphrases for the whole sentence?