Just wanted to pass along how much I appreciate your hard work and dedication to this site. As an American learning the language, with Norwegian friends and family living there, it has been extremely helpful. Jeg setter veldig pris på det!
So a subjunctive is "jeg være"? Thanks. Yes, the Subjunctive is very rare in Norwegian, from what I understand. And like the preterite? Jeg var is I was.
Um kind of, I suppose, but you _wouldn't_ say "jeg være". Unless there is a specific set phrase which uses that specific wording, (which I doubt). When it is used it's usually in the third person, to express a desired action on the part of the subject, kind of like a third person imperative (c.f. English "God save the Queen" - same deal). Like the preterite, yup. So you could argue that it's a subjunctive in, say "hvis jeg var yngre". But it just looks like the preterite. (This is actually the only English verb that changes in the subjunctive past: "If I _were_ younger", but in Norwegian it's identical across the board, to the best of my knowledge.)
But "God save the queen" uses the verb save in the imperative, not the subjunctive. How about if you wanted to say: "I demand that you be on time", this is a very clear use of subjunctive in English, what would that be in Norwegian?
8 years later there are many more videos on the same topic, still this one is the best!
Just wanted to pass along how much I appreciate your hard work and dedication to this site. As an American learning the language, with Norwegian friends and family living there, it has been extremely helpful. Jeg setter veldig pris på det!
Thanks so much! I've been wondering about this for weeeeeeks.
Takk så mye !!
Tusen takk! Really cleared everything out.
thank you so much!!!!!!
Is there a Norwegian Subjunctive, if so what is the Subjunctive for å være and å ha?
So a subjunctive is "jeg være"? Thanks. Yes, the Subjunctive is very rare in Norwegian, from what I understand. And like the preterite? Jeg var is I was.
Um kind of, I suppose, but you _wouldn't_ say "jeg være". Unless there is a specific set phrase which uses that specific wording, (which I doubt). When it is used it's usually in the third person, to express a desired action on the part of the subject, kind of like a third person imperative (c.f. English "God save the Queen" - same deal).
Like the preterite, yup. So you could argue that it's a subjunctive in, say "hvis jeg var yngre". But it just looks like the preterite. (This is actually the only English verb that changes in the subjunctive past: "If I _were_ younger", but in Norwegian it's identical across the board, to the best of my knowledge.)
Honestly, the fossilised remains of the Norwegian subjunctive are absolutely not something you need to worry about :)
sealbones Okay.
But "God save the queen" uses the verb save in the imperative, not the subjunctive. How about if you wanted to say: "I demand that you be on time", this is a very clear use of subjunctive in English, what would that be in Norwegian?