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Learn Hardcore Norwegian: Vi bekrefter avtalen skriftlig. - We confirm the appointment in writing.

Hardcore Norwegian
/Lesson 55
/Vi bekrefter avtalen skriftlig.

Vi bekrefter avtalen skriftlig.

Word

Vi bekrefter avtalen skriftlig.

Meaning

We confirm the appointment in writing.

Part of speech

sentence

Pronunciation

Course

Hardcore Norwegian

Lesson

Breakdown of Vi bekrefter avtalen skriftlig.

the appointment

Questions & Answers about Vi bekrefter avtalen skriftlig.

What does each word in Vi bekrefter avtalen skriftlig literally mean?

Word by word:

Vi = we
bekrefter = confirm / are confirming
avtalen = the agreement (from en avtale = an agreement)
skriftlig = in writing / written(ly)

So the whole sentence is literally: We confirm the agreement in writing.

Why is it avtalen and not en avtale?

Norwegian uses the definite form when a specific, known thing is meant.

en avtale = an agreement (any agreement, not specified)
avtalen = the agreement (a particular agreement both sides know about)

In a real context, this sentence would usually refer to a specific contract you already talked about, so Norwegian needs the definite form avtalen.

What tense is bekrefter, and does it only mean present?

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Bekrefter is the present tense of å bekrefte (to confirm).

It can mean:

Present action:
- Vi bekrefter avtalen skriftlig. = We are confirming the agreement in writing (now / as we speak).
General or repeated action:
- We (always) confirm agreements in writing.
Near future / scheduled:
Depending on context, it can also be understood as future, similar to English We’ll confirm..., especially in formal written Norwegian.

So it doesn’t strictly have to be “right now”; it’s the same flexible present tense you see in many Norwegian sentences.

What is the infinitive of bekrefter, and how is å bekrefte conjugated?

The verb is:

Infinitive: å bekrefte = to confirm

Common forms:

jeg/du/vi/de bekrefter – I/you/we/they confirm
han/hun bekrefter – he/she confirms
jeg bekreftet – I confirmed (past)
jeg har bekreftet – I have confirmed (present perfect)
jeg vil/skal bekrefte – I will confirm (future with a modal verb)

Norwegian does not change the present tense ending according to person, so it’s always bekrefter with I, you, he, we, etc.

What exactly is skriftlig here – an adjective or an adverb?

In form, skriftlig is an adjective meaning written.

en skriftlig bekreftelse = a written confirmation (adjective before a noun)

In this sentence, though, skriftlig is used adverbially, describing how the agreement is confirmed:

Vi bekrefter avtalen skriftlig.
= We confirm the agreement in writing / in a written form.

Norwegian often uses adjectives in this way as adverbs, without changing their form.

Can I say Vi skriftlig bekrefter avtalen instead? Is that correct?

It’s grammatically possible, but it sounds unnatural and quite marked.

The normal, neutral word order is:

Vi bekrefter avtalen skriftlig.

Putting skriftlig before the verb (Vi skriftlig bekrefter avtalen) sounds like you’re trying to emphasize written in a poetic or very stylized way. In everyday speech and normal writing, avoid that order.

Where does skriftlig usually go in the sentence?

In a simple main clause like this, skriftlig (a manner adverbial) typically goes after the object:

Vi bekrefter avtalen skriftlig.

If the object is a pronoun, it’s still common to keep skriftlig at the end:

Vi bekrefter den skriftlig. = We confirm it in writing.

You might move skriftlig to the front only for special emphasis:

Skriftlig bekrefter vi avtalen. (unusual, but possible in very formal or stylistic contexts, stressing in writing).

How would I say “We will confirm the agreement in writing” instead of a plain present tense?

You can add a modal verb:

Common options:

Vi skal bekrefte avtalen skriftlig.
- Often: We will/shall confirm the agreement in writing.
- skal can imply a plan, duty, or something agreed.
Vi vil bekrefte avtalen skriftlig.
- We will confirm the agreement in writing.
- vil can sound slightly more like intention or willingness.
Vi kommer til å bekrefte avtalen skriftlig.
- We are going to confirm the agreement in writing.
- Neutral prediction of what will happen.

All are correct; choice depends on nuance and context.

Is this sentence formal or informal? In what context would Norwegians use it?

Vi bekrefter avtalen skriftlig is neutral to formal.

Typical contexts:

Business emails
- Vi bekrefter avtalen skriftlig i løpet av uken.
Contracts or legal letters
- Vi bekrefter avtalen skriftlig med vedlagt dokument.

In very casual spoken language, people would more often say something like:

Vi sender en skriftlig bekreftelse. = We’ll send a written confirmation.

How do I say “We do not confirm the agreement in writing”? Where does ikke go?

The normal placement of ikke (not) here is after the verb:

Vi bekrefter ikke avtalen skriftlig.
= We do not confirm the agreement in writing.

Word order:

Vi (subject)
bekrefter (verb)
ikke (negation)
avtalen (object)
skriftlig (adverbial of manner)

Can I replace avtalen with a pronoun, like den? How would that affect the sentence?

Yes. If the agreement has already been mentioned, you can refer to it with den:

Vi bekrefter den skriftlig.
= We confirm it in writing.

The meaning stays the same; you just avoid repeating avtalen.

Note that the word order is still natural with den before skriftlig. It would be odd to say:

✗ Vi bekrefter skriftlig den. (unnatural)

Is there a more “expanded” way to say the same thing in Norwegian?

Yes, you can make it a bit more explicit or formal:

Vi gir en skriftlig bekreftelse på avtalen.
= We will give a written confirmation of the agreement.

or

Vi bekrefter skriftlig at vi har inngått avtale.
= We confirm in writing that we have entered into an agreement.

These are stylistic variations; the original sentence is already clear and correct.

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