Language/Norwegian-bokmal/Grammar/Present-tense-verbs

Norwegian Bokmål → Grammar → 0 to A1 Course → Present tense verbs

Welcome to this exciting lesson on Present Tense Verbs in Norwegian Bokmål! Understanding how to use verbs in the present tense is crucial for any language learner because it allows you to express actions happening now. Whether you're discussing your daily routine, describing your hobbies, or simply sharing what you like to do, the present tense is a fundamental building block.

In this lesson, we will explore the structure of present tense verbs in Norwegian Bokmål, learn about regular and irregular verbs, and practice with plenty of examples. By the end of this lesson, you should feel comfortable using present tense verbs in your conversations.

Here's what we'll cover:

• Introduction to Present Tense Verbs

• Structure of Present Tense Verbs

• Regular Verbs

• Irregular Verbs

• Common Verbs in Present Tense

• Exercises to Practice

Introduction to Present Tense Verbs

The present tense in Norwegian Bokmål is used to describe ongoing actions or states. For example, if you want to say "I eat" or "She works," you would use the present tense. It’s the tense you’ll use most frequently in conversations, making it essential for expressing everyday activities and thoughts.

Structure of Present Tense Verbs

In Norwegian Bokmål, present tense verbs are formed by adding specific endings to the verb stem. Let's break it down:

1. Regular Verbs: These verbs follow predictable patterns.

2. Irregular Verbs: These verbs do not follow regular patterns and need to be memorized.

Regular Verbs

Regular verbs in Norwegian Bokmål typically end in -e in their infinitive form. To form the present tense, you generally remove the -e and add the appropriate ending.

Conjugation Pattern for Regular Verbs:

• Jeg (I): -er ending

• Du (You): -er ending

• Han/Hun/Det (He/She/It): -er ending

• Vi (We): -er ending

• Dere (You plural): -er ending

• De (They): -er ending

To illustrate this, let’s look at some examples:

Norwegian Bokmål	Pronunciation	English
å spise	/oː 'spiːsə/	to eat
jeg spiser	/jæɪ 'spiːsər/	I eat
du spiser	/dʉ 'spiːsər/	you eat
han spiser	/hɑn 'spiːsər/	he eats
vi spiser	/vi 'spiːsər/	we eat
de spiser	/di 'spiːsər/	they eat

Example with another regular verb:

Norwegian Bokmål	Pronunciation	English
å lese	/oː 'leːsə/	to read
jeg leser	/jæɪ 'leːsər/	I read
du leser	/dʉ 'leːsər/	you read
hun leser	/hʉn 'leːsər/	she reads
vi leser	/vi 'leːsər/	we read
dere leser	/'deːrə 'leːsər/	you (plural) read

Irregular Verbs

Irregular verbs do not follow the standard rules for forming the present tense. It’s essential to learn these verbs as they are commonly used in everyday conversation.

Here are some examples of irregular verbs:

Norwegian Bokmål	Pronunciation	English
å være	/oː 'væːrə/	to be
jeg er	/jæɪ 'æːr/	I am
du er	/dʉ 'æːr/	you are
han er	/hɑn 'æːr/	he is
vi er	/vi 'æːr/	we are
de er	/di 'æːr/	they are

Another example with an irregular verb:

Norwegian Bokmål	Pronunciation	English
å gå	/oː 'ɡoː/	to go
jeg går	/jæɪ 'ɡoːr/	I go
du går	/dʉ 'ɡoːr/	you go
hun går	/hʉn 'ɡoːr/	she goes
vi går	/vi 'ɡoːr/	we go
de går	/di 'ɡoːr/	they go

Common Verbs in Present Tense

Here’s a list of some common verbs you might use in your everyday conversations:

• å ha (to have)

• å gjøre (to do)

• å se (to see)

• å si (to say)

• å ta (to take)

Let’s look at these verbs in the present tense:

Norwegian Bokmål	Pronunciation	English
å ha	/oː 'hɑː/	to have
jeg har	/jæɪ 'hɑːr/	I have
du har	/dʉ 'hɑːr/	you have
han har	/hɑn 'hɑːr/	he has
vi har	/vi 'hɑːr/	we have
de har	/di 'hɑːr/	they have

Verbs in action:

Norwegian Bokmål	Pronunciation	English
å gjøre	/oː 'jœːrə/	to do
jeg gjør	/jæɪ 'jœːr/	I do
du gjør	/dʉ 'jœːr/	you do
hun gjør	/hʉn 'jœːr/	she does
vi gjør	/vi 'jœːr/	we do
de gjør	/di 'jœːr/	they do

Exercises to Practice

Now that we've covered the basics, let’s put your knowledge to the test! Here are some exercises to help reinforce what you’ve learned:

Exercise 1: Fill in the Blanks

Complete the sentences with the correct form of the verb in parentheses.

1. Jeg ___ (å spise) frokost.

2. Du ___ (å lese) en bok.

3. Han ___ (å spille) fotball.

4. Vi ___ (å gå) til skolen.

5. De ___ (å være) glade.

Answers:

1. Jeg spiser frokost.

2. Du leser en bok.

3. Han spiller fotball.

4. Vi går til skolen.

5. De er glade.

Exercise 2: Match the Verbs

Match the Norwegian Bokmål verbs with their English translations.

| Norwegian Bokmål | English |

|-------------------|------------------|

| 1. å være | a. to eat |

| 2. å ha | b. to be |

| 3. å lese | c. to read |

| 4. å gå | d. to have |

| 5. å gjøre | e. to do |

Answers:

1 - b, 2 - d, 3 - c, 4 - a, 5 - e

Exercise 3: Conjugate the Verbs

Conjugate the following verbs in the present tense for all pronouns.

1. å skrive (to write)

2. å danse (to dance)

Answers:

1.

• jeg skriver

• du skriver

• han skriver

• vi skriver

• de skriver

2.

• jeg danser

• du danser

• hun danser

• vi danser

• dere danser

Exercise 4: Create Sentences

Create sentences using the following verbs in the present tense.

1. å spille (to play)

2. å se (to see)

Example Answers:

1. Jeg spiller gitar. (I play guitar.)

2. Vi ser på TV. (We are watching TV.)

Exercise 5: Negative Sentences

Make the following sentences negative.

1. Jeg spiser.

2. Du er glad.

Answers:

1. Jeg spiser ikke.

2. Du er ikke glad.

Exercise 6: Identify the Verb Tense

Read the sentences and identify the verb tense.

1. Jeg går til butikken.

2. Hun leser en avis.

Answers:

Both sentences are in the present tense.

Exercise 7: Translation Practice

Translate the following sentences into Norwegian Bokmål.

1. They are happy.

2. I read a book.

Answers:

1. De er glade.

2. Jeg leser en bok.

Exercise 8: Fill in the Blanks with Irregular Verbs

Fill in the blanks with the correct form of the irregular verbs given.

1. Jeg ___ (å ha) en katt.

2. Du ___ (å være) snill.

Answers:

1. Jeg har en katt.

2. Du er snill.

Exercise 9: Write a Short Paragraph

Write a short paragraph (3-5 sentences) about your daily activities using verbs in the present tense.

Example Answer:

"Jeg står opp tidlig. Jeg spiser frokost og går til skolen. På skolen leser jeg bøker og skriver oppgaver."

Exercise 10: Role Play

In pairs, role-play a conversation using at least five present tense verbs you have learned.

Example Scenario:

One person asks about the other’s daily routine, and they respond using the present tense verbs.

Conclusion

Congratulations on completing this lesson on present tense verbs! You've learned how to form and use present tense verbs, both regular and irregular. Remember that practice makes perfect, so keep using these verbs in your conversations. As you move forward in your Norwegian study journey, you will find that the present tense is your trusty companion in expressing yourself.

Keep practicing, and soon you'll be able to communicate with confidence in Norwegian Bokmål!

Table of Contents - Norwegian Bokmål Course - 0 to A1

• Course Presentation

  ---

Introduction to Norwegian Bokmål

• Alphabet and Pronunciation
• Basic Sentence Structure

  ---

Greetings and Introductions

• Basic Greetings
• Introducing Yourself

  ---

Nouns and Pronouns

• Gender and Definite Articles
• Personal Pronouns

  ---

Numbers and Time

• Numbers 1-100
• Telling Time

  ---

Verbs and Tenses

• Present Tense
• Past Tense

  ---

Daily Activities

• Daily Routine
• Hobbies and Interests

  ---

Adjectives and Adverbs

• Adjective Agreement
• Comparatives and Superlatives

  ---

Food and Drink

• Common Foods
• Eating Out

  ---

Prepositions and Conjunctions

• Common Prepositions
• Coordinating Conjunctions

  ---

Travel and Transportation

• Modes of Transportation
• Asking for Directions

  ---

Questions and Negation

• Question Words
• Negation

  ---

Family and Relationships

• Family Members
• Expressing Emotions

  ---

Norwegian Customs and Traditions

• Holidays and Celebrations
• Etiquette and Social Norms

Other Lessons

• Past tense verbs
• Indirect speech
• Definite and indefinite forms of nouns
• Formal writing and communication
• How to Use Be
• Advanced sentence structure and syntax
• Relative clauses
• Academic writing and research skills
• Negation
• Basic sentence structure