A1 Norwegian GrammarBasic Questions
Learn to form yes/no questions and use question words in Norwegian. Master the essential interrogative words (hva, hvem, hvor, når, hvorfor, hvordan) and understand the V2 word order rule that applies to questions.
1Yes/No Questions (Verb-First)
In Norwegian, yes/no questions are formed by placing the verb first, before the subject. This is called inversion. The answer typically uses 'ja' (yes) or 'nei' (no), often followed by a short confirmation. This pattern is consistent across all tenses.
Yes/No Question Formation
| Statement | Question | English |
|---|---|---|
| Du snakker norsk. | Snakker du norsk? | Do you speak Norwegian? |
| Han er student. | Er han student? | Is he a student? |
| De bor i Oslo. | Bor de i Oslo? | Do they live in Oslo? |
| Hun liker kaffe. | Liker hun kaffe? | Does she like coffee? |
Examples
Har du tid?
Do you have time?
verb 'har' comes first
Er dette riktig?
Is this correct?
verb 'er' before subject
Kommer du i morgen?
Are you coming tomorrow?
inversion with main verb
Vil du ha mer?
Would you like more?
modal verb comes first
2Question Words (Spørreord)
Norwegian question words all begin with 'hv-'. The most common ones are: hva (what), hvem (who), hvor (where), når (when), hvorfor (why), and hvordan (how). After a question word, the verb comes second (V2 rule), then the subject.
Norwegian Question Words
| Norwegian | English | Example Question |
|---|---|---|
| hva | what | Hva heter du? |
| hvem | who | Hvem er det? |
| hvor | where | Hvor bor du? |
| når | when | Når kommer du? |
| hvorfor | why | Hvorfor gråter han? |
| hvordan | how | Hvordan har du det? |
Examples
Hva gjør du?
What are you doing?
hva + verb + subject
Hvem snakker du med?
Who are you talking to?
preposition at end
Hvor er toalettet?
Where is the toilet?
essential travel question
Når begynner filmen?
When does the movie start?
når for time questions
3Compound Question Words
Norwegian creates additional question words by combining 'hvor' with other words. 'Hvor mye' (how much), 'hvor mange' (how many), 'hvor lenge' (how long), and 'hvor gammel' (how old) are especially useful for everyday conversations about quantities, time, and age.
Compound Question Words
| Norwegian | English | Used For |
|---|---|---|
| hvor mye | how much | uncountable things, price |
| hvor mange | how many | countable things |
| hvor lenge | how long | duration |
| hvor gammel | how old | age |
Examples
Hvor mye koster det?
How much does it cost?
essential shopping phrase
Hvor mange barn har du?
How many children do you have?
mange = many (countable)
Hvor lenge har du bodd her?
How long have you lived here?
lenge for time duration
Hvor gammel er du?
How old are you?
gammel = old
4Common Question Patterns
Certain question patterns appear frequently in everyday Norwegian. Learning these set phrases will help you navigate common situations like introductions, directions, and basic needs. Notice how V2 word order is maintained in all examples.
Essential Question Phrases
| Norwegian | English | Situation |
|---|---|---|
| Hva heter du? | What is your name? | Introduction |
| Hvor kommer du fra? | Where are you from? | Introduction |
| Kan du hjelpe meg? | Can you help me? | Asking for help |
| Unnskyld, hvor er...? | Excuse me, where is...? | Directions |
Examples
Hva betyr dette?
What does this mean?
useful for language learning
Kan du gjenta det?
Can you repeat that?
gjenta = to repeat
Hvor finner jeg...?
Where do I find...?
finner = find
Hva skjer?
What's happening?
informal greeting/question