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Joining Sentences (og, men, fordi)
Some connectors keep normal word order; others (fordi, at, når) flip it. This is the B1 gatekeeper.
If you remember nothing else
- •og, men, for, eller, så are 'side-by-side' connectors: normal word order on both sides.
- •fordi, at, når, hvis, som start a SUBORDINATE clause where the verb moves later, and 'ikke' comes BEFORE the verb.
- •If a sentence starts with the subordinate clause, the main verb still comes right after the comma (V2).
Easy connectors keep word order
The coordinating connectors og (and), men (but), eller (or), for (because/for), så (so) simply glue two normal main clauses together. Nothing moves.
Jeg er trøtt, men jeg vil ikke sove.
I'm tired, but I don't want to sleep.
Hun lager mat, og han vasker opp.
She cooks, and he washes up.
Subordinating connectors change the order
Words like fordi (because), at (that), når (when), hvis (if), om (whether), som (who/which) open a subordinate clause. Inside it, the word order shifts: any little adverb like 'ikke' or 'alltid' comes BEFORE the verb, not after.
Jeg lærer norsk fordi jeg bor her.
I'm learning Norwegian because I live here.
Jeg vet at hun ikke kommer.
I know that she isn't coming.
Han spør om vi vil bli med.
He's asking whether we want to come along.
Front the subordinate clause, keep V2
If you start the sentence with the subordinate clause, the whole clause is 'position 1', so the main verb comes immediately after the comma (the V2 rule again).
Hvis det regner, blir vi hjemme.
If it rains, we'll stay home.
Når jeg er ferdig, ringer jeg deg.
When I'm done, I'll call you.
Quick check
3 questions. Get them right to lock in the lesson.