Noen ganger kan et problem oppstå med datamaskinen.

Sometimes a problem can arise with the computer.

Breakdown of Noen ganger kan et problem oppstå med datamaskinen.

• et: a
• med: with
• kunne: can
• noen ganger: sometimes

Questions & Answers about Noen ganger kan et problem oppstå med datamaskinen.

Why does the sentence start with Noen ganger? Could I also say Et problem kan noen ganger oppstå med datamaskinen?

Norwegian main clauses are V2 (verb-second): the finite verb (here kan) must be in second position, but the first position is flexible.

• In Noen ganger kan et problem oppstå med datamaskinen, the order is:
  
  1. Noen ganger (adverbial, “sometimes”)
  2. kan (finite verb)
  3. et problem (subject)
• In Et problem kan noen ganger oppstå med datamaskinen, the order is:
  
  1. Et problem (subject)
  2. kan (finite verb)
  3. noen ganger (adverbial)

Both sentences are grammatically correct and natural.
Putting Noen ganger first emphasizes “sometimes / on some occasions”, while putting Et problem first emphasizes “a problem”.

What is the difference between noen ganger and av og til? Can they both mean “sometimes”?