Barna vil ha vafler etter skolen.

Barna is the definite plural form of barn.

• et barn = a child
• barn = children
• barna = the children

This is a useful word to memorize because barn has the same form in both singular indefinite and plural indefinite, so the context or the definite ending helps you tell them apart.

In Norwegian, indefinite plural nouns usually do not take a separate article.

So:

• vafler = waffles / some waffles
• vaflene = the waffles

That is different from English, where learners often expect a word like some. Norwegian often just uses the bare plural noun.

Because vil is a modal verb. In Norwegian, modal verbs are followed by an infinitive without å.

So:

• vil ha = want to have / want
• kan spise = can eat
• må gå = must go
• skal lese = will/shall read

You do not say vil å ha.

Literally, yes, but in sentences about food and drink, ha often works like English have in the sense of eat, drink, or get.

So vil ha vafler does not usually mean they want to possess waffles as objects. It means they want waffles to eat.

This is very natural Norwegian.

It can in some contexts, because vil can express either:

• desire / wanting
• future / intention

But in this sentence, with children + waffles, the most natural reading is want.

So a learner should understand Barna vil ha vafler as the children want waffles, not primarily as a future statement.

Because Norwegian often uses the definite form in expressions that refer to familiar routines, institutions, or events.

So:

• etter skolen = after school / after the school day
• på skolen = at school
• etter jobben = after work
• etter middagen = after dinner

English often has no article in these expressions, but Norwegian commonly uses the definite ending.

Normally it means after the school day is over.

So it is mainly a time expression, not a literal statement about being behind or after a building. In everyday use, etter skolen is understood as after school in the usual schedule sense.

Norwegian main clauses usually follow the V2 rule, which means the finite verb comes in the second position.

In this sentence:

• Barna = first element
• vil = second element

So the sentence is structured normally.

You can see the same rule if another element comes first:

• Etter skolen vil barna ha vafler.

The finite verb vil still stays in second position.

Because foods like waffles are often talked about in the plural when you mean some of that food or a serving of it.

• en vaffel = one waffle
• vafler = waffles / some waffles

Using the plural sounds natural if the speaker is thinking of waffles in general, or more than one piece, which is very common.

You would change the noun form:

• Barna vil ha en vaffel etter skolen. = The children want one waffle after school.
• Barna vil ha vaflene etter skolen. = The children want the waffles after school.

So the original vafler is the indefinite plural form.