……
Breakdown of Hun vasker opp i mellomtiden.
hun
she
vaske opp
to do the dishes
i mellomtiden
in the meantime
AI Language TutorTry it ↗
“What's the best way to learn Norwegian grammar?”
Norwegian grammar becomes intuitive with practice. Focus on understanding the core patterns first — how sentences are structured, how verbs change form, and how words relate to each other. Our course breaks these concepts into small lessons so you can build understanding step by step.
Sign up free — start using our AI language tutor
Start learning NorwegianMaster Norwegian — from Hun vasker opp i mellomtiden to fluency
All course content and exercises are completely free — no paywalls, no trial periods.
- ✓ Infinitely deep — unlimited vocabulary and grammar
- ✓ Fast-paced — build complex sentences from the start
- ✓ Unforgettable — efficient spaced repetition system
- ✓ AI tutor to answer your grammar questions
More from this lesson
Questions & Answers about Hun vasker opp i mellomtiden.
What does the verb phrase vaske opp mean here?
It’s an idiomatic particle verb meaning to do the dishes / wash up (the dishes). On its own, vaske means “to wash/clean” (e.g., clothes, floors, hands). To say “wash oneself,” use vaske seg. So Hun vasker opp = “She is doing the dishes.”
Is opp a separable particle? Where does it go with negation, adverbs, questions, etc.?
Yes—opp is a particle that stays close to the verb but can be split by certain elements.
- Negation: Hun vasker ikke opp.
- Yes–no question: Vasker hun opp?
- Perfect: Hun har vasket opp.
- Modal + infinitive: Hun vil vaske opp.
- Fronted adverbial (V2 rule): I mellomtiden vasker hun opp. The particle normally comes after the verb; sentence adverbs like ikke slot between verb and particle.
Can I say Hun vasker oppvasken?
Natural Norwegian is either:
- Hun vasker opp. (do the dishes), or
- Hun tar oppvasken. (take/do the dishes; very idiomatic) Saying vaske oppvasken is generally avoided because it sounds redundant (literally “wash the dishwashing”). Use one of the two options above.
Can vaske opp take a specific object, like “the pot”?
Yes, when you mean “wash something up,” you can add an object.
- Noun object (often between verb and particle): Hun vasker kjelen opp.
- Pronoun object (must go between verb and particle): Hun vasker den opp. If you just mean “wash the pot,” you can also skip the particle: Hun vasker kjelen. The particle opp often adds a sense of “completely/finish off.”
How is vaske opp different from just vaske?
- vaske = to wash/clean in general: Hun vasker gulvet (She washes the floor).
- vaske opp = to wash dishes or wash something up to completion: Hun vasker opp (She does the dishes).
What’s the difference between vaske opp and rydde opp?
- vaske opp = do the dishes.
- rydde opp = clean up/tidy up (put things in order), not specifically dishes. Example: Han rydder opp på rommet (He tidies up the room).
What does i mellomtiden mean compared with imens, mens, and imidlertid?
- i mellomtiden = “in the meantime” (a time adverbial phrase).
- imens = “meanwhile” (often at the start of a clause): Imens lagde jeg mat.
- mens = “while” (subordinating conjunction): Mens jeg lagde mat, vasket hun opp.
- imidlertid = “however” (contrastive sentence adverb), not a time expression.
Is the spelling imellomtiden or i mellom tiden ever correct?
No. The correct fixed phrase is i mellomtiden (three words, no hyphen). A common variant (also standard in Bokmål and typical in Nynorsk/dialects) is i mellomtida.
Can I put i mellomtiden at the start of the sentence?
Yes, and then apply the V2 rule:
- I mellomtiden vasker hun opp. Norwegian main clauses typically have the finite verb in second position, so after fronting i mellomtiden, the verb vasker comes next, then the subject hun.
Does the present tense vasker mean “is washing” or “washes”?
Both. Norwegian present covers progressive and habitual. Context decides:
- Right now: “She is doing the dishes.”
- Habitually: “She does the dishes.” To emphasize ongoing action, you can say: Hun holder på å vaske opp or Hun står og vasker opp.
How would I say it in the past, perfect, or future?
- Preterite (past): Hun vasket opp i mellomtiden.
- Present perfect: Hun har vasket opp i mellomtiden.
- Future/intended: Hun skal vaske opp i mellomtiden. / Hun kommer til å vaske opp i mellomtiden. Note that simple present with a future time phrase is also common in Norwegian.
Where does ikke go in this sentence?
Before the particle:
- Hun vasker ikke opp i mellomtiden. With a fronted time phrase:
- I mellomtiden vasker hun ikke opp. In a subordinate clause:
- … at hun ikke vasker opp i mellomtiden.
Why is it mellomtiden (definite) without an article like den?
It’s a set prepositional time expression: i + definite noun (“in the meantime”), parallel to patterns like i helgen (“on/over the weekend”). The definite ending is built into mellomtiden, so you don’t add den.
Any quick pronunciation tips?
- Hun: the u is a rounded sound (like German ü). Roughly “hoon,” but shorter and more fronted.
- vasker: say “VAS-ker” (the -er is a reduced syllable).
- opp: “op” with a short o and a long p sound.
- i mellomtiden: “ee MEL-lom-tee-den.” Stress typically on the first syllable of mellom and ti in tiden.
What about Bokmål vs Nynorsk or dialectal variants?
- Bokmål (standard): Hun vasker opp i mellomtiden.
- Bokmål variant: Hun vasker opp i mellomtida.
- Nynorsk/dialects: Ho vaskar opp i mellomtida. All are natural within their standards/dialects.
Can I say Hun vasker i mellomtiden opp?
That word order is not idiomatic. Keep the particle close to the verb and place the time phrase at the end or front:
- End: Hun vasker opp i mellomtiden.
- Fronted: I mellomtiden vasker hun opp.