Planen vår er forutsigbar.

Our plan is predictable.

Breakdown of Planen vår er forutsigbar.

• være: to be
• vår: our
• planen: the plan
• forutsigbar: predictable

Questions & Answers about Planen vår er forutsigbar.

Why does planen have -en at the end instead of a separate word for the, like in English?

In Norwegian Bokmål, the definite article (the) is usually a suffix attached to the noun:

• en plan = a plan
• planen = the plan

So planen literally means the plan.

When you add a possessive after the noun (like vår), the noun still keeps its definite ending:

• planen vår = our plan (literally: the plan our)

Even though English uses the indefinite form (our plan), Norwegian uses the definite form when the possessive comes after the noun.

Why is the possessive vår placed after the noun (planen vår) instead of before it, like in English?

Norwegian allows possessive pronouns both:

• after the noun: planen vår
• before the noun: vår plan

The most neutral, everyday way is usually noun + possessive:

• planen vår – sounds normal, neutral, common in speech and writing.

Putting the possessive before the noun (vår plan) is possible, but can sound:

• slightly more formal or written
• or more emphatic, as if you’re stressing that it’s our plan (as opposed to someone else’s).

In most cases, if you’re unsure, planen vår is the safest and most natural choice.

Are planen vår and vår plan exactly the same in meaning?

They refer to the same thing, but the grammar and nuance differ slightly:

1. Word form of the noun

   • planen vår: noun is definite (planen)
   • vår plan: noun is indefinite (plan)

2. Typical nuance

   • planen vår – neutral, everyday, very common.
   • vår plan – often a bit more formal or emphasizing our.

In English, both would usually just be translated as our plan. The difference is mainly stylistic, not about basic meaning.

Why is it vår and not vårt or våre?

The possessive pronoun has to agree with the noun’s gender and number.

For vår (our):

• vår – masculine or feminine singular noun
• vårt – neuter singular noun
• våre – plural noun (all genders)

The noun plan is masculine:

• en plan – a plan (masculine)
• planen – the plan

So you must use the masculine/feminine singular possessive:

• planen vår = our plan
  Not:
• planen vårt (wrong: neuter)
• planene våre (= our plans, plural)

Could I say Planen vår er forutsigbare to match the definite noun?

No. Forutsigbar is an adjective here, used after the verb er (a predicate adjective). In this position, in Bokmål:

• It does not take a special definite form.
• It only agrees with the noun’s gender and number, not its definiteness.

For en plan (masculine singular), the correct form is:

• Planen vår er forutsigbar.

You would only use forutsigbare with a plural subject:

• Planene våre er forutsigbare. = Our plans are predictable.

How does the adjective forutsigbar change in other forms (gender, number, position)?

Basic pattern for forutsigbar:

Predicate position (after er, blir, etc.)

• Masculine/feminine singular: forutsigbar
  
  • Planen vår er forutsigbar.
• Neuter singular: forutsigbart
  
  • Resultatet er forutsigbart. (= The result is predictable.)
• Plural (all genders): forutsigbare
  
  • Planene er forutsigbare.

Attributive position (before the noun)

• Masculine/feminine indef. sg.: en forutsigbar plan
• Neuter indef. sg.: et forutsigbart resultat
• Plural indef.: forutsigbare planer
• Definite (all genders, singular or plural): den / det / de forutsigbare …
  
  • den forutsigbare planen
  • de forutsigbare planene

So: predicate → no definite form; attributive + definite noun → forutsigbare.

What’s the difference between forutsigbar and forutsigelig?

Both can be translated as predictable, but:

• forutsigbar is very common and neutral in modern Bokmål.
• forutsigelig also exists and is understood, but can sound a bit more formal, old‑fashioned, or slightly more bookish, depending on context.

In most everyday contexts, forutsigbar is the safest and most natural choice, as in Planen vår er forutsigbar.

Can I leave out er, like Planen vår forutsigbar?

No. Norwegian normally needs the verb er (is) in this kind of sentence.

The structure is:

• [Subject] + er + [adjective]
• Planen vår (subject) + er
  • forutsigbar (adjective)

So Planen vår forutsigbar is ungrammatical in standard Norwegian. You must say:

• Planen vår er forutsigbar.

How do you pronounce Planen vår er forutsigbar?

Approximate pronunciation in an eastern/standard-type accent (using rough English-like hints):

• Planen – PLAH-nen

  • pla- like pla in plaster but with a more open a (like British father)
  • -nen with a schwa-like e (unstressed, like the e in taken).

• vår – vohr

  • like English vore (rhymes with more), with a long å sound.

• er – ær / air

  • similar to English air, but often quite short.

• forutsigbar – roughly FOH-rut-seeg-bar

  • fo-: like fo in forward but shorter
  • -rut-: root but with a shorter vowel, often [rʉt]
  • -sig-: like English seek but with a shorter i
  • -bar: like English bar with an open a.

In connected speech, many syllables will be reduced, and the main stress falls on PLAH- in Planen and -SIG- in forutsigbar.