Language/Norwegian-bokmal/Grammar/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[edit | edit source]
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[edit | edit source]
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[edit | edit source]
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[edit | edit source]
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[edit | edit source]
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[edit | edit source]
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[edit | edit source]
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[edit | edit source]
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[edit | edit source]
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[edit | edit source]
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[edit | edit source]
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[edit | edit source]
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[edit | edit source]
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[edit | edit source]
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[edit | edit source]
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[edit | edit source]
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[edit | edit source]
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!
Other Lessons[edit | edit source]
- 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