Breakdown of Hver eneste kveld skrur han på radioen, i tillegg skriver han en liste.
han
he
en
a
skrive
to write
kvelden
the evening
radioen
the radio
i tillegg
in addition
skru på
to turn on
hver eneste
every single
listen
the list
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Questions & Answers about Hver eneste kveld skrur han på radioen, i tillegg skriver han en liste.
Why does the verb come before the subject in both clauses (skrur han, skriver han)?
Norwegian main clauses follow the V2 rule: the finite verb must be the second element. When you front an adverbial like Hver eneste kveld or I tillegg, the verb comes next, then the subject: Hver eneste kveld skrur han… / I tillegg skriver han…. Without a fronted element you’d have the default order: Han skrur…, Han skriver….
Can I say Hver eneste kveld han skrur på radioen?
No. That violates the V2 rule. With a fronted time expression, the verb must come before the subject: Hver eneste kveld skrur han på radioen.
What’s the difference between hver kveld and hver eneste kveld?
Hver kveld means “every evening.” Hver eneste kveld adds emphasis, like “every single evening,” suggesting no exceptions.
Why is it radioen (definite)? Could I say skru på radio or skru på en radio?
You use the definite form radioen when you mean the specific device that’s present (like “the radio” at home). Skru på en radio would mean “turn on a radio” (some radio, not a particular one) and sounds odd in this context. Note that (å) høre på radio means “to listen to the radio (broadcast),” where radio is used without the article.
Is skru på the only way to say “turn on”? When should I use slå på or sette på?
- Skru på: very common for devices (lights, radio, TV), originally linked to turning a knob.
- Slå på: also widely used for turning devices on; perfectly fine here.
- Sette på: often used for starting something or putting something on (music, a kettle, the washing machine): sette på musikk, sette på kaffen.
All three can work with a radio; skru på and slå på are the safest.
Where does the particle på go? Can I say skru radioen på, or must it be skru på radioen?
Both skru på radioen and skru radioen på are possible, but skru på radioen is more common. With a pronoun, the particle goes after the pronoun: Skru den på (not Skru på den).
Why skrur and not skruer?
Present tense in Bokmål is formed by adding -r to the infinitive. For verbs not ending in -e (like skru), you just add -r: skrur. Skruer is a plural noun meaning “screws.”
What does i tillegg do, and are there alternatives?
I tillegg is a connective adverb meaning “in addition” or “additionally.” Alternatives include dessuten (“besides/moreover”) and simply og (“and”): …, og han skriver en liste or Dessuten skriver han en liste.
Is the comma before i tillegg okay?
In formal writing, it’s better to write two sentences or use a conjunction: … radioen. I tillegg skriver han … or … radioen, og i tillegg skriver han …. A bare comma before i tillegg (without a conjunction) is often seen in informal text but is not standard.
Can i tillegg come later in the clause (e.g., Han skriver i tillegg en liste)?
Yes, that’s grammatical. Placing i tillegg first is more natural and clearer in writing, but Han skriver i tillegg en liste is acceptable, just slightly heavier in tone.
Why en liste? Could it be ei liste or lista/listen?
In Bokmål, liste can be masculine or feminine. En liste (masc.) is very common; ei liste (fem.) is also correct if you consistently use feminine forms. The definite forms are listen (masc.) or lista (fem.): use them if it’s a specific known list.
Is skrive en liste idiomatic, or should I say lage/sette opp en liste?
All are idiomatic, with slight nuance:
- Skrive en liste: physically write a list.
- Lage en liste: make/compile a list (more general).
- Sette opp en liste: draw up a list (a bit more formal/structured).
Can I put hver eneste kveld at the end: Han skrur på radioen hver eneste kveld?
Yes. Time expressions can go first or last. Fronting them (Hver eneste kveld …) emphasizes the time frame more.
Any quick pronunciation tips for this sentence?
- hver: the h is silent; sounds like “vær.”
- skrur: “skroor” (long u).
- radioen: roughly “RAH-dee-oh-en.”
- i tillegg: stress on the second part, “ti-LLEGG.”
Why not drop the second han and say …, i tillegg skriver en liste?
Norwegian does not drop subject pronouns in standard writing. Each main clause needs its subject: …, i tillegg skriver han en liste.
How would I negate these clauses?
Place ikke after the finite verb (and after the subject when there’s inversion):
- Han skrur ikke på radioen. / Hver eneste kveld skrur han ikke på radioen.
- Han skriver ikke (noen) liste.
Using ikke noen liste usually sounds more natural than ikke en liste unless you mean “not a single list.”