Breakdown of Hun bidrar regelmessig, og sjefen er fornøyd.
være
to be
hun
she
og
and
sjefen
the boss
fornøyd
satisfied
bidra
to contribute
regelmessig
regularly
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Questions & Answers about Hun bidrar regelmessig, og sjefen er fornøyd.
Why is there a comma before og?
Because it links two independent main clauses with different subjects: Hun … and sjefen …. In Norwegian, you normally put a comma before og when it joins two full clauses with different subjects. No comma if the clauses share the same subject: e.g., Hun bidrar regelmessig og er pliktoppfyllende.
Can I omit the comma here?
In standard Bokmål, no—keep it. The comma is recommended because the subjects differ (Hun vs sjefen). Omitting it would be non‑standard.
What are the forms of å bidra?
- Infinitive: å bidra
- Present: bidrar
- Preterite (past): bidro
- Past participle: bidratt (e.g., har bidratt)
Where should regelmessig go in the sentence?
After the finite verb in a neutral main clause: Hun bidrar regelmessig. You can also front it for emphasis if you keep the verb in second position: Regelmessig bidrar hun. Not: Hun regelmessig bidrar.
Could I use jevnlig or ofte instead of regelmessig?
- regelmessig = on a regular schedule/at set intervals.
- jevnlig = regularly/consistently, but a bit less “scheduled.”
- ofte = often/frequently (focus on frequency, not regularity). All three fit grammatically: Hun bidrar jevnlig/ofte.
Do I need til or med after bidra?
Not necessarily. But:
- bidra med + noe (what you contribute): Hun bidrar med ideer.
- bidra til + noe (what you contribute to/bring about): Hun bidrar til prosjektet / Det bidrar til gode resultater.
What is the difference between Hun, henne, and hennes?
- Hun = she (subject): Hun bidrar.
- henne = her (object): Vi hjelper henne.
- hennes = her/hers (possessive): Hennes sjef or sjefen hennes.
Why is it sjefen and not hennes sjef?
Norwegian often uses the definite form for a known/understood person in context. Sjefen can mean “the (her) boss” if it’s clear who that is. If you need to specify, use sjefen hennes (more colloquial) or hennes sjef (more formal/emphatic).
What gender is sjef, and what are its forms?
Masculine. Forms:
- Indefinite singular: en sjef
- Definite singular: sjefen
- Indefinite plural: sjefer
- Definite plural: sjefene
How does fornøyd inflect?
- Singular: fornøyd (no gender change; there’s no neuter -t form)
- Plural: fornøyde (e.g., Sjefene er fornøyde) Alternative form: fornøgd (more Nynorsk/dialectal). Synonym: tilfreds.
Do I need med after fornøyd?
Often, yes, if you specify what someone is satisfied with: Sjefen er fornøyd med innsatsen. Without med, it just states a general satisfaction.
Why is the present tense (bidrar, er) used for a habitual action?
Norwegian present covers present time and habitual actions: Hun bidrar regelmessig = She contributes on a regular basis. You can also say Hun pleier å bidra to emphasize habit.
Any pronunciation tips for these words?
- Hun: roughly “hoon” with a fronted u.
- bidrar: stress on first syllable: BI-drar.
- regelmessig: “RE-gel-mess-ig”; hard g in regel.
- og: often pronounced like “o/oh”; the g is weak or silent.
- sjefen: sj = “sh”; “SHEH-fen.”
- fornøyd: stress on nøyd; øy like rounded “oy”; final d often weak/silent.
Is og ever confused with å?
Yes, learners mix them up. og = and (connector). å = to (infinitive marker). Examples: Hun bidrar, og sjefen er fornøyd vs Hun liker å bidra.
Can I drop the subject pronoun in Norwegian?
No. Norwegian requires an explicit subject in finite clauses. You need Hun, not just Bidrar regelmessig.
How could I show cause and effect more explicitly?
- Hun bidrar regelmessig, så sjefen er fornøyd (so).
- Sjefen er fornøyd fordi hun bidrar regelmessig (because).
- Sjefen er fornøyd, for hun bidrar regelmessig (for/because).