Questions & Answers about Vi har ikke bevis.
Why is there no separate word for do in Vi har ikke bevis?
Norwegian does not use do-support the way English does.
In English, you say:
- We do not have evidence
But in Norwegian, you simply negate the main verb directly:
- Vi har ikke bevis
So:
- har = have / has
- ikke = not
A very literal breakdown is:
- Vi = we
- har = have
- ikke = not
- bevis = evidence / proof
Why does ikke come after har?
In a normal Norwegian main clause, the finite verb usually comes early in the sentence, and ikke typically comes after that finite verb.
So:
- Vi har ikke bevis = correct
This is a very common Norwegian pattern:
- Jeg kommer ikke
- Han vet ikke
- Vi har ikke tid
A useful rule is:
- In a main clause: the finite verb comes before ikke
- In a subordinate clause: ikke usually comes before the finite verb
Compare:
- Vi har ikke bevis = main clause
- ... fordi vi ikke har bevis = subordinate clause
Why is there no article before bevis?