Planen endres ofte når været er dramatisk.

to be

Breakdown of Planen endres ofte når været er dramatisk.

• været: the weather
• når: when
• ofte: often

Questions & Answers about Planen endres ofte når været er dramatisk.

Why is Planen in the definite form and not just en plan?

In Norwegian, you use the definite form (planen = the plan) when both speaker and listener know which specific plan you are talking about, or when it’s “the usual/standard plan” in a certain context.

• Planen endres ofte …
  = The plan is often changed … (the particular plan we have been talking about / the usual plan)

If you said:

• En plan endres ofte når været er dramatisk.

it would sound more like “A plan is often changed …”, talking about some random or hypothetical plan, not a specific one. In normal contexts (like at work, on a trip, in a project), Norwegians would almost always say planen here.

What does the -s in endres mean? Is it passive?

Yes. Endres is the -s passive form of the verb å endre (to change).

• å endre = to change
• (no -s): Vi endrer planen. = We change the plan. (active)
• (with -s): Planen endres. = The plan is changed / The plan changes. (passive/middle)

In Planen endres ofte, the -s form is used instead of mentioning who changes the plan. It can be understood in two ways:

1. Pure passive: The plan is often changed (by someone).
2. Middle voice / intransitive feel: The plan often changes (it tends to change, without focusing on who does it).

Both readings are possible; the context usually makes it clear.

Could I also say Planen blir ofte endret? What is the difference from ?