Questions & Answers about Det er altfor sent.
Why does the sentence start with det?
Here det works as a dummy subject, just like it in English sentences such as It is late or It is raining.
It does not have to refer to a specific object. Norwegian usually wants a subject in a full sentence, so det is used even when the sentence is talking about a general situation.
What is er?
Er is the present tense of å være, which means to be.
A useful thing for English speakers: Norwegian verbs do not change depending on the subject.
- jeg er = I am
- du er = you are
- han er = he is
- vi er = we are
So er is the same for everyone.
What does altfor mean, and how is it different from for?
Altfor means far too or much too. It makes the sentence stronger than just for.
Compare:
- Det er sent. = It is late.
- Det er for sent. = It is too late.
- Det er altfor sent. = It is far too late / much too late.
So altfor adds extra emphasis.