Breakdown of Jeg drikker kaffe, derimot drikker hun te.
jeg
I
hun
she
drikke
to drink
kaffen
the coffee
teen
the tea
derimot
on the other hand
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Questions & Answers about Jeg drikker kaffe, derimot drikker hun te.
Is the comma before derimot correct?
A bare comma between two independent clauses is not recommended in Norwegian. Prefer a semicolon or a period:
- Jeg drikker kaffe; derimot drikker hun te.
- Jeg drikker kaffe. Derimot drikker hun te. If you use men (but), a comma is fine: Jeg drikker kaffe, men hun drikker te.
What is derimot—a conjunction or an adverb?
Derimot is a contrastive sentence adverb meaning “however/on the other hand,” not a coordinating conjunction. It belongs to the second clause and can’t by itself link two clauses the way men does; that’s why you punctuate with a semicolon or a period before it.
Why is it derimot drikker hun, not derimot hun drikker?
Norwegian main clauses follow the V2 rule: the finite verb is in second position. When you front an adverbial like derimot, the verb (drikker) must come next, and the subject (hun) follows: Derimot drikker hun te.
Can I just use men instead of derimot?
Yes. Men is the most common everyday choice:
- Jeg drikker kaffe, men hun drikker te. This feels more neutral and conversational than derimot.
What about mens?
Mens means “while/whereas.” It introduces a subordinate clause and often signals contrast or simultaneity:
- Jeg drikker kaffe, mens hun drikker te. Nuance: mens can highlight parallel actions; derimot simply contrasts.
Where can I place derimot in the second clause?
Several options, with slightly different emphasis:
- Clause-initial (strong contrast, triggers V2): Derimot drikker hun te.
- After the subject (emphasizes the subject): Hun derimot drikker te.
- Mid-clause (more neutral): Hun drikker derimot te.
- Parenthetical (added contrast): Hun, derimot, drikker te.
Why no article before kaffe and te?
They’re mass nouns here, so no article is needed for a general statement. Use the definite form when you mean specific drinks:
- General: Jeg drikker kaffe. / Hun drikker te.
- Specific: Jeg drikker kaffen. / Hun drikker teen. When ordering a serving, you can say: en kaffe / en te (“a coffee/tea”).
Does drikker mean “drink” or “am drinking”?
Both. Norwegian present tense covers simple and progressive meanings. Context or an adverb clarifies if needed:
- Habitual: Jeg drikker kaffe.
- Right now: Jeg drikker kaffe nå / akkurat nå.
Should there be a comma after clause-initial derimot?
No. Write Derimot drikker hun te, without a comma after derimot. Commas around derimot are only used when it’s parenthetical: Hun, derimot, drikker te.
Is derimot formal?
It’s common in writing and can sound a bit formal or bookish in casual speech. In everyday conversation, men (and sometimes mens) is more frequent, though derimot is perfectly correct in speech too.
Any quick pronunciation tips for these words?
- jeg ≈ yai/yei
- drikker ≈ DRIK-ker (rolled or tapped r)
- kaffe ≈ KAH-feh
- derimot ≈ DEH-ri-moht (stress on first syllable)
- hun ≈ “hoon” with a fronted u-sound
- te ≈ teh
Is word order different if I use men instead of derimot?
Yes. With men, you keep normal subject–verb order in the second clause:
- Jeg drikker kaffe, men hun drikker te. With clause-initial derimot, V2 inversion applies:
- Jeg drikker kaffe; derimot drikker hun te.