Norsk grammatikk
Konjunksjoner 📕
Conjunctions are connecting words. A conjunction connects similar words, clauses, or sentences. We have five conjunctions in Norwegian that can connect similar sentences:
And
We use "and" when we add more information.
Example: I love you, and you love me.
But
We use "but" when we want to show a contradiction.
Example: I know a little Norwegian, but I learn new words every day.
Or
We use "or" when we have a choice.
Example : Would you like coffee or tea?
Before
We use "for" when we want to tell the reason for something, for example why we do something.
Example: I got up at 7 o'clock, to get to work at 8 o'clock.
🆘 "For" usually means the same as "because", but "because" is a subjunction:
He exercises every day because he doesn't want to get heart disease.
He exercises every day because he doesn't want to get heart disease.
So
"So" shows the consequence of something, what something leads to.
Example: Maria is good at playing chess, so she wins over Samaneh.
🆘 So can also be an adverbial or subjunctive, but then it has a different meaning.
🆘 We can use so and for to express the same thing, but we must remember that "so" expresses consequence, while "for" expresses cause:
I want to travel to the South this summer, because I don't like the rain.
I don't like the rain, so I want to travel to the South this summer.
There are three things in particular that you need to remember when using conjunctions:
⚠️ We always put a comma before the conjunction if the conjunction is followed by a complete sentence.
⚠️ Before "but" we must always have a comma or period.
⚠️ Remember that conjunctions can connect two complete sentences. The conjunction does not affect the structure of the complete sentence. Look at this example:
I like winter. I don't like skiing. (2 complete sentences)
I like winter, but I don't like skiing. (complete sentence + conjunction + complete sentence)
In addition, we have compound conjunctions .
| Conjunction | Example |
| Both - and include the options we are offered: | I like both Spain and Italy very much. |
| Either - or is used when we have not decided on a choice. | I'm leaving either tomorrow or the day after. |
| Neither - or use when we choose to eliminate all the options we have. | I don't feel like eating meat or fish. |
Some common constructions that conjunctions link together are:
Nouns: I like chocolate and vanilla .
Adjectives: Is he likeable or fake ?
Verb: She laughed and laughed .
Adverb: The exam candidate was nervous , but focused .
Prepositions: Did you sit behind or in front of Lise?
Pronoun: Are you in love with her or me ?
Interjections: What do you think? Yes or no ?
Complete sentences: Per got a grade of 5 on the test , but he wasn't happy with that.
Clauses: We can drop our plans if you can't , or if you don't want to .
Typical errors:
1. Remember that when conjunctions connect two complete sentences, "not" comes after the verb.
Han spiser fisk, men han ikke spiser sushi.
Han spiser fisk, men han spiser ikke sushi.
