Questions & Answers about Vi handler økonomisk hver lørdag.
What does handler mean here, and how is it different from kjøper?
In this sentence, handler (from å handle) means to shop / to do the shopping.
- å handle = to shop, to do the shopping (often for groceries or everyday things)
- Vi handler hver lørdag. = We (do the) shopping every Saturday.
- å kjøpe = to buy (a specific thing)
- Vi kjøper melk. = We buy milk.
So:
- Vi handler hver lørdag. focuses on the activity of shopping.
- Vi kjøper melk hver lørdag. focuses on the specific thing you buy.
Why can handler stand alone without an object? Shouldn’t it be Vi handler mat or something similar?
å handle is often used intransitively (without a direct object) when it simply means to go shopping / do the shopping.
- Vi handler. = We’re shopping / We’re doing the shopping.
- The object (groceries, food, etc.) is understood from context and doesn’t have to be said.
If you want to be more specific, you can add an object:
- Vi handler mat hver lørdag. = We buy food every Saturday.
- Vi handler klær på nettet. = We shop for clothes online.
But it’s completely natural and correct to just say Vi handler when you mean “We shop / We do the shopping”.
Is økonomisk an adjective or an adverb here?