Infinitive form The infinitive form of the verb is the form found in the dictionary, and it usually ends in an unstressed -e or a stressed vowel. Infinitive Examples Ends in unstressed -e spise, like, lese, snakke, reise Ends in a stressed vowel bo, ha, snø, kle, bety, skje Infinitive form and modal verbs The infinitive form of the verb can never be used as the main verb in the sentence by itself. However, it can be used with the modal verbs. Modal verbs Modal verb + infinitive skal (shall, is going to) Jeg skal spille fotball. vil (want to, will) Jeg vil ha lunsj nå. kan (can, is able to) Jeg kan snakke norsk. må (must, have to) Jeg må jobbe i kveld. bør (ought to) Jeg bør sove mer. Infinitive form and the infinitive marker The infinitive form of the verb can also be used with the infinitive marker, "å (to)." In the examples on the left, the infinitive functions as the object of the sentence. In the examples on the right, the infinitive functions as the object of the preposition. Infinitive form + infinitive marker Infinitive form + infinitive marker Jeg liker å spille fotball. Jeg har lyst til å reise til Norge. Jeg elsker å danse! Jeg er interessert i å lære norsk. Jeg pleier å spise lunsj klokka 12. Jeg er flink til å spille piano. Jeg prøver å lære norsk. Jeg er lei av å studere. Jeg begynner å jobbe klokka 8. Jeg gleder meg til å reise hjem. Present tense In Norwegian, the present tense is formed by adding an -r ending to the infinitive. Unlike many other languages, the present tense verb does not have to be conjugated to agree with the subject of the sentence. like ----> liker | spise ----> spiser | bo----> bor | ha ----> har This one present tense form in Norwegian can be translated in three different ways in English. Jeg bor i Norge. = I live in Norway | I am living in Norway. | I do live in Norway. Person / Number Present tense Present tense 1. person, sg. Jeg liker fisk. Jeg bor i Norge. 2. person, sg. Du liker fisk. Du bor i Norge. 3. person, sg. Han liker fisk. Han bor i Norge. 3. person, sg. Hun liker fisk. Hun bor i Norge. 1. person, plur. Vi liker fisk. Vi bor i Norge 2. person, plur. Dere liker fisk. Dere bor i Norge. 3. person, plur. De liker fisk. De bor i Norge. Irregular present tense forms While most present tense verbs are formed by adding an -r to the infinitive, there are a few that have an irregular present tense. Infinitive Present tense Examples være (be) er Jeg er fra USA. gjøre (do) gjør Jeg gjør leksene. si (say) sier Jeg sier at jeg liker fotball. spørre (ask) spør Jeg spør om han kommer hit. vite (know) vet Jeg vet hva du heter. Uses of present tense In Norwegian, present tense is used to express several different things. Uses of present tense Examples Examples Current activities Jeg leser nå. Jeg jobber i dag. Habitual actions Jeg går på ski om vinteren Jeg drar på hytta om sommeren. General statements Folk i Norge snakker norsk. Oslo er hovedstaden i Norge. Future tense Det blir fint vær i morgen. Jeg reiser neste uke.

Web site by Nancy Aarsvold.
http://www.stolaf.edu/depts/norwegian/web/present.html
Last updated: December 4, 2000