Learn Hardcore Norwegian: Vi tar bussen inn til byen i kveld.

Norwegian often uses the simple present for near-future plans when there’s a time expression. Vi tar bussen i kveld is like English “We’re taking the bus tonight.” The time phrase i kveld makes the future meaning clear.

What’s the difference between tar, skal ta, and kommer til å ta?

Vi tar bussen i kveld: neutral, a set/decided plan (often quite soon).
Vi skal ta bussen i kveld: intention or arrangement.
Vi kommer til å ta bussen i kveld: a prediction/likelihood rather than a plan you control.

Why are the nouns in the definite form (bussen, byen)?

bussen: Norwegian often uses the definite form for public transport in a generic/practical sense (“the bus” as a mode or known route). You’re not pointing to a random bus, but “the bus” as the way you’re going.
byen: literally “the city/town,” often meaning the main town/city you both have in mind, frequently “downtown.”

Can I say Vi tar buss or Vi tar en buss?

Vi tar buss is not standard in Bokmål. Say Vi reiser/drar med buss (“by bus”) or Vi tar bussen.
Vi tar en buss is possible if you mean “we’ll take a (some) bus” (one of several), but for the usual “take the bus,” Vi tar bussen is most idiomatic.

What nuance does inn til byen add compared with til byen or inn i byen?

til byen: to the city (destination).
inn til byen: into town from outside; adds a sense of going inwards toward the city center and is very idiomatic.
inn i byen: into the (inside of the) city; emphasizes crossing a boundary (more physical/locational than til). All three can be fine; inn til byen sounds very natural in everyday speech.

What’s the difference between inn and inne?

inn = motion into (go in). Example: Vi går inn (“We’re going in”).
inne = location inside (be in). Example: Vi er inne (“We’re inside”). Here, inn is used because you’re moving toward the city.

Can I drop inn and just say Vi tar bussen til byen i kveld?

Yes. It’s fully correct and common. inn just adds the “in(wards)” nuance; without it, the sentence is a bit more neutral.

Where can I put the time phrase i kveld? Could it go first?

Yes: I kveld tar vi bussen inn til byen. That sounds natural and adds emphasis to “tonight.” It can also stay at the end: Vi tar bussen inn til byen i kveld.

Why did the verb move when I put i kveld first?

Norwegian main clauses follow the V2 rule: the finite verb must be in second position. When you front i kveld, the verb tar moves to second: I kveld [1] tar [2] vi bussen …

How do I negate this sentence?

Place ikke after the finite verb:

Vi tar ikke bussen inn til byen i kveld. If you front the time: I kveld tar vi ikke bussen inn til byen.

How do I turn it into a yes/no question?

Invert verb and subject:

Tar vi bussen inn til byen i kveld? With “skal”: Skal vi ta bussen inn til byen i kveld?

Is i kveld one or two words?

Two words. The correct spelling is i kveld. Writing ikveld is nonstandard.

Can I use på kvelden or om kvelden instead of i kveld?

i kveld = this evening/tonight (specific).
om kvelden/på kvelden = in the evenings (habitual/general). For a one-off happening tonight, use i kveld.

Does i kveld mean “tonight” or “this evening”? Where’s the cutoff with i natt?

i kveld covers the evening period before late night. i natt means “tonight” in the sense of the nighttime/overnight period. If it’s late evening or after midnight, you’d typically switch to i natt.

Any pronunciation tips for bussen, byen, and kveld?

bussen: u is the Norwegian /ʉ/ (rounded, tongue forward). Not like English “bus.”
byen: y is /y/ (like German “ü” or French “u”).
kveld: the final -d is often very weak or silent in many accents.

What are the genders and basic forms of buss and by?

buss (masc.): en buss – bussen – busser – bussene.
by (masc.): en by – byen – byer – byene.

How else could I say this naturally?

I kveld drar vi inn til byen (med buss).
Vi skal inn til byen i kveld (med buss).
Vi reiser med buss inn til byen i kveld. You can also swap the transport: tar T-banen, tar trikken, etc.

Can I use går for “go” here?

Be careful: å gå means “to walk.” Vi går inn til byen i kveld means you’re walking to town. For “go” in a neutral sense, use dra/reise, or keep ta with the vehicle: Vi tar bussen …