A1 Norwegian GrammarNegation
Learn to make negative sentences in Norwegian using 'ikke' (not). Understand where to place 'ikke' in different sentence types and master common negative words like 'aldri' (never), 'ingen' (no one), and 'ingenting' (nothing).
1Basic Negation with 'ikke'
The Norwegian word for 'not' is 'ikke'. In main clauses, 'ikke' comes directly after the verb. This is different from English, where 'not' often comes before the verb or needs an auxiliary. In Norwegian, you simply add 'ikke' after the conjugated verb.
Ikke Placement in Main Clauses
| Positive | Negative | English |
|---|---|---|
| Jeg snakker norsk. | Jeg snakker ikke norsk. | I don't speak Norwegian. |
| Han er her. | Han er ikke her. | He is not here. |
| Vi liker kaffe. | Vi liker ikke kaffe. | We don't like coffee. |
| De kommer. | De kommer ikke. | They are not coming. |
Examples
Jeg forstår ikke.
I don't understand.
ikke after verb
Det er ikke dyrt.
It is not expensive.
ikke after 'er'
Hun jobber ikke i dag.
She doesn't work today.
time expression at end
Vi har ikke tid.
We don't have time.
ikke after 'har'
2Negation with Modal Verbs
When a sentence has a modal verb (kan, vil, må, skal), 'ikke' is placed after the modal verb, not after the main verb. The main verb stays in the infinitive form at the end. This word order is consistent across all modal verb constructions.
Ikke with Modal Verbs
| Modal | Positive | Negative |
|---|---|---|
| kan (can) | Jeg kan svømme. | Jeg kan ikke svømme. |
| vil (want) | Han vil spise. | Han vil ikke spise. |
| må (must) | Du må gå. | Du må ikke gå. |
| skal (shall) | Vi skal reise. | Vi skal ikke reise. |
Examples
Jeg kan ikke komme i dag.
I cannot come today.
ikke after 'kan'
Du må ikke røyke her.
You must not smoke here.
prohibition with må ikke
Vi vil ikke vente.
We don't want to wait.
ikke after 'vil'
Han skal ikke jobbe i morgen.
He is not going to work tomorrow.
ikke after 'skal'
3Other Negative Words
Besides 'ikke', Norwegian has other negative words: 'aldri' (never), 'ingen' (no one), 'ingenting' (nothing), and 'ingensteder' (nowhere). Unlike English, Norwegian does NOT use double negatives. Use either 'ikke' OR another negative word, but not both together.
Negative Words
| Norwegian | English | Example |
|---|---|---|
| aldri | never | Jeg drikker aldri alkohol. |
| ingen | no one | Ingen er her. |
| ingenting | nothing | Jeg har ingenting. |
| ingensteder | nowhere | Vi går ingensteder. |
Examples
Jeg har aldri vært i Norge.
I have never been to Norway.
aldri = never
Ingen vet svaret.
No one knows the answer.
ingen as subject
Det er ingenting å gjøre.
There is nothing to do.
ingenting = nothing
Jeg ser ingen.
I see no one.
ingen as object
4Answering Questions Negatively
To answer a question negatively, start with 'nei' (no), then repeat the key elements with 'ikke'. Short negative answers are common in spoken Norwegian. You can also use 'nei' alone or combine it with a fuller negative statement.
Negative Answers
| Question | Short Answer | Full Answer |
|---|---|---|
| Er du norsk? | Nei. | Nei, jeg er ikke norsk. |
| Har du bil? | Nei. | Nei, jeg har ikke bil. |
| Liker du fisk? | Nei. | Nei, jeg liker ikke fisk. |
| Snakker du fransk? | Nei. | Nei, jeg snakker ikke fransk. |
Examples
Nei, takk.
No, thank you.
polite refusal
Nei, det gjør jeg ikke.
No, I don't.
short answer pattern
Nei, det er ikke sant.
No, that is not true.
sant = true
Nei, jeg vet ikke.
No, I don't know.
common response