Editing Norwegian language (section)

==Grammar==
===Nouns===
{{See also|Nynorsk#Nouns}}
Norwegian [[noun]]s are [[inflection|inflected]] for [[grammatical number|number]] (singular/plural) and for [[definiteness]] (indefinite/definite). In a few dialects, definite nouns are also inflected for the [[dative case]].

Norwegian nouns belong to three [[Grammatical gender|noun classes]] (genders): masculine, feminine and neuter. All feminine nouns can optionally be inflected using masculine noun class morphology in Bokmål due to its Danish heritage.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.sprakradet.no/Vi-og-vart/Publikasjoner/Spraaknytt/spraknytt-22017/grammatisk-kjonn-og-variasjon-i-norsk/|title=Grammatisk kjønn og variasjon i norsk|website=Språkrådet|language=no|access-date=17 June 2019|archive-date=17 June 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190617223757/https://www.sprakradet.no/Vi-og-vart/Publikasjoner/Spraaknytt/spraknytt-22017/grammatisk-kjonn-og-variasjon-i-norsk/|url-status=live}}</ref> In comparison, the use of all three genders (including the feminine) is mandatory in Nynorsk.<ref name="Språkrådet2">{{Cite web|url=http://elevrom.sprakradet.no/skolen/minigrammatikk/tema/hovudreglane_for_substantivboying|title=Språkrådet|website=elevrom.sprakradet.no|access-date=14 July 2018|archive-date=14 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180714193145/http://elevrom.sprakradet.no/skolen/minigrammatikk/tema/hovudreglane_for_substantivboying|url-status=live}}</ref>

All Norwegian dialects have traditionally retained all the three grammatical genders from [[Old Norse]] to some extent.<ref name=":0">{{Citation|last=Skjekkeland|first=Martin|title=dialekter i Bergen|date=10 September 2018|url=http://snl.no/dialekter_i_Bergen|work=Store norske leksikon|language=no|access-date=17 June 2019|archive-date=15 May 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190515020059/https://snl.no/dialekter_i_Bergen|url-status=live}}</ref> The only exceptions are the [[Bergen dialect|dialect of Bergen]] and a few upper class sociolects at [[East End and West End of Oslo|the west end of Oslo]] that have completely lost the feminine gender.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Citation|last1=Hanssen|first1=Eskil|title=dialekter og språk i Oslo|date=13 September 2016|url=http://snl.no/dialekter_og_spr%C3%A5k_i_Oslo|work=Store norske leksikon|language=no|access-date=14 July 2018|last2=Kjærheim|first2=Harald|last3=Skjekkeland|first3=Martin|archive-date=15 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180715035836/https://snl.no/dialekter_og_spr%C3%A5k_i_Oslo|url-status=live}}</ref>

According to [[Marit Westergaard]], approximately 80% of nouns in Norwegian are masculine.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Isaksen |first1=Karoline Kvellestad |title=Do we really need grammatical gender? |url=https://partner.sciencenorway.no/cas-centre-for-advanced-study-gender-language/do-we-really-need-grammatical-gender/1576053 |access-date=25 September 2022 |work=[[Forskning.no]] |agency=The Centre for Advanced Study |date=11 October 2019 |archive-date=25 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220925145858/https://partner.sciencenorway.no/cas-centre-for-advanced-study-gender-language/do-we-really-need-grammatical-gender/1576053 |url-status=live }}</ref>
{| class="wikitable"
|+Examples, nouns in Bokmål
! rowspan="2" |
! colspan="2" |Singular
! colspan="2" |Plural
|-
!Indefinite
!Definite
!Indefinite
!Definite
|-
! rowspan="2" |Masculine
|{{lang|nb|en båt}}
|{{lang|nb|båten}}
|{{lang|nb|båter}}
|{{lang|nb|båtene}}
|-
|a boat
|the boat
|boats
|the boats
|-
! rowspan="2" |Feminine
|{{lang|nb|ei/en vogn}}
|{{lang|nb|vogna/vognen}}
|{{lang|nb|vogner}}
|{{lang|nb|vognene}}
|-
|a wagon
|the wagon
|wagons
|the wagons
|-
! rowspan="2" |Neuter
|{{lang|nb|et hus}}
|{{lang|nb|huset}}
|{{lang|nb|hus}}
|{{lang|nb|husa/husene}}
|-
|a house
|the house
|houses
|the houses
|}
Norwegian and other Scandinavian languages use a [[suffix]] to indicate [[definiteness]] of a noun, unlike English which has a separate article, ''the'', to indicate the same.

In general, almost all nouns in Bokmål follow these patterns<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ressurssidene.no/web/PageND.aspx?id=99149|title=Bøying|website=www.ressurssidene.no|language=nb-NO|access-date=14 July 2018}}{{Dead link|date=April 2020 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> (like the words in the examples above):

{| class="wikitable"
|+Nouns in Bokmål
! rowspan="2" |
! colspan="2" |Singular
! colspan="2" |Plural
|-
!Indefinite
!Definite
!Indefinite
!Definite
|-
!Masculine
|{{lang|nb|en}}
|  {{lang|nb|-en}}
| rowspan="2" |  {{lang|nb|-er}}
| rowspan="2" |  {{lang|nb|-ene}}
|-
!Feminine
|{{lang|nb|ei/en}}
|  {{lang|nb|-a/-en}}
|-
!Neuter
|{{lang|nb|et}}
|  {{lang|nb|-et}}
|  {{lang|nb|-/-er}}
|  {{lang|nb|-a/-ene}}
|}
In contrast, almost all nouns in Nynorsk follow these patterns<ref name="Språkrådet2"/> (the noun gender system is more pronounced than in Bokmål):
{| class="wikitable"
|+Nouns in Nynorsk
! rowspan="2" |
! colspan="2" |Singular
! colspan="2" |Plural
|-
!Indefinite
!Definite
!Indefinite
!Definite
|-
!Masculine
|{{lang|nn|ein}}
|  {{lang|nn|-en}}
|  {{lang|nn|-ar}}
|  {{lang|nn|-ane}}
|-
!Feminine
|{{lang|nn|ei}}
|  {{lang|nn|-a}}
|  {{lang|nn|-er}}
|  {{lang|nn|-ene}}
|-
!Neuter
|{{lang|nn|eit}}
|  {{lang|nn|-et}}
|  –
|  {{lang|nn|-a}}
|}
{| class="wikitable"
|+Examples, nouns in Nynorsk
! rowspan="2" |
! colspan="2" |Singular
! colspan="2" |Plural
|-
!Indefinite
!Definite
!Indefinite
!Definite
|-
! rowspan="2" |Masculine
|{{lang|nn|ein båt}}
|{{lang|nn|båten}}
|{{lang|nn|båtar}}
|{{lang|nn|båtane}}
|-
|a boat
|the boat
|boats
|the boats
|-
! rowspan="2" |Feminine
|{{lang|nn|ei vogn}}
|{{lang|nn|vogna}}
|{{lang|nn|vogner}}
|{{lang|nn|vognene}}
|-
|a wagon
|the wagon
|wagons
|the wagons
|-
! rowspan="2" |Neuter
|{{lang|nn|eit hus}}
|{{lang|nn|huset}}
|{{lang|nn|hus}}
|{{lang|nn|husa}}
|-
|a house
|the house
|houses
|the houses
|}

There is in general no way to infer what grammatical gender a specific noun has, but there are some patterns of nouns where the gender can be inferred. For instance, all nouns ending in -''nad'' will be masculine in both Bokmål and Nynorsk (for instance the noun {{lang|no|jobbsøknad}}, which means 'job application'). Most nouns ending in -''ing'' will be feminine, like the noun {{lang|no|forventning}} ('expectation').

There are some common irregular nouns, many of which are irregular in both Bokmål and Nynorsk, like the following:
{| class="wikitable"
|+Irregular noun, fot (foot)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://ordbok.uib.no/perl/ordbok.cgi?OPP=fot&ant_bokmaal=5&ant_nynorsk=5&begge=+&ordbok=begge|title=Bokmålsordboka {{!}} Nynorskordboka|website=ordbok.uib.no|access-date=14 July 2018|archive-date=14 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180714193521/https://ordbok.uib.no/perl/ordbok.cgi?OPP=fot&ant_bokmaal=5&ant_nynorsk=5&begge=+&ordbok=begge|url-status=live}}</ref>
!
! colspan="2" |Singular
! colspan="2" |Plural
|-
!
!Indefinite
!Definite
!Indefinite
!Definite
|-
!Bokmål
|{{lang|nb|en fot}}
|{{lang|nb|foten}}
|{{lang|nb|føtter}}
|{{lang|nb|føttene}}
|-
!Nynorsk
|{{lang|nn|ein fot}}
|{{lang|nn|foten}}
|{{lang|nn|føter}}
|{{lang|nn|føtene}}
|-
!English
|a foot
|the foot
|feet
|the feet
|}
In Nynorsk, even though the irregular word {{lang|nn|fot}} is masculine, it is inflected like a feminine word in the plural. Another word with the same irregular inflection is {{lang|nn|son – søner}} ('son – sons').

In Nynorsk, nouns ending in -''ing'' typically have masculine plural inflections, like the word {{lang|nn|dronning}} in the following table. But they are treated as feminine nouns in every other way.<ref name="Språkrådet2"/>
{| class="wikitable"
|+Nynorsk, some irregular nouns
|-
! Gender
! colspan="4" |Nouns ending with -ing
! English
|-
! Feminine
|{{lang|nn|ei dronning}}
|{{lang|nn|dronninga}}
|{{lang|nn|dronningar}}
|{{lang|nn|dronningane}}
| queen
|-
! colspan="6" | Plurals with [[Umlaut (linguistics)|umlaut]] (these irregularities also exist in Bokmål)
|-
! rowspan="4" | Feminine
|{{lang|nn|ei bok}}
|{{lang|nn|boka}}
|{{lang|nn|b'''ø'''ker}}
|{{lang|nn|b'''ø'''kene}}
| book
|-
|{{lang|nn|ei hand}}
|{{lang|nn|handa}}
|{{lang|nn|h'''e'''nder}}
|{{lang|nn|h'''e'''ndene}}
| hand
|-
|{{lang|nn|ei stong}}
|{{lang|nn|stonga}}
|{{lang|nn|st'''e'''nger}}
|{{lang|nn|st'''e'''ngene}}
| rod
|-
|{{lang|nn|ei tå}}
|{{lang|nn|tåa}}
|{{lang|nn|t'''æ'''r}}
|{{lang|nn|t'''æ'''rne}}
| toe
|-
! colspan="6" | Plurals with no ending (these irregularities also exist in Bokmål)
|-
! Masculine
|{{lang|nn|ein ting}}
|{{lang|nn|tingen}}
|{{lang|nn|ting}}
|{{lang|nn|tinga}}
| thing
|-
|}

==== Genitive of nouns ====
In general, the [[genitive case]] has died out in modern Norwegian and there are only some remnants of it in certain expressions: {{lang|no|til fjells}} ('to the mountains'), {{lang|no|til sjøs}} ('to the sea'). To show ownership, there is an [[enclitic]] -''s'' similar to English -{{'}}''s''; {{lang|no|Sondres flotte bil}} ('Sondre's nice car', ''Sondre'' being a personal name). There are also reflexive possessive pronouns, {{lang|no|sin}}, {{lang|no|si}}, {{lang|no|sitt}}, {{lang|no|sine}}; {{lang|no|Det er Sondre sitt}} ('It is Sondre's'). In both Bokmål and modern Nynorsk, there is often a mix of both of these to mark possession, though it is more common in Nynorsk to use the reflexive pronouns; in Nynorsk use of the reflexive possessive pronouns is generally encouraged to avoid mixing the enclitic -''s'' with the historical grammatical case remnants of the language. The reflexive pronouns agree in gender and number with the noun.

The enclitic -''s'' in Norwegian evolved as a shorthand expression for the possessive pronouns {{lang|no|sin}}, {{lang|no|si}}, {{lang|no|sitt}} and {{lang|no|sine}}.{{Citation needed|date=September 2022}}
{| class="wikitable"
|+Examples
|-
!Norwegian (with pronoun)
!Norwegian (with enclitic 's)
!English
|-
|{{lang|no|Jenta sin bil}}
|{{lang|no|Jentas bil}}
|The girl's car
|-
|{{lang|no|Mannen si kone}}
|{{lang|no|Mannens kone}}
|The man's wife
|-
|{{lang|no|Gutten sitt leketøy}}
|{{lang|no|Guttens leketøy}}
|The boy's toy
|-
|{{lang|no|Kona sine barn}}
|{{lang|no|Konas barn}}
|The wife's children
|-
|{{lang|no|Det er statsministeren sitt}}
|{{lang|no|Det er statsministerens}}
|It is the prime minister's
|}

===Adjectives===
{{See also|Nynorsk#Adjectives}}
Norwegian [[adjective]]s, like those of Swedish and Danish, inflect for [[definiteness]], [[Grammatical gender|gender]], [[Grammatical number|number]] and for [[Comparison (grammar)|comparison]] (affirmative/comparative/superlative). Inflection for definiteness follows two paradigms, called "weak" and "strong", a feature shared among the [[Germanic languages]].

The following table summarizes the inflection of adjectives in Norwegian. The indefinite affirmative inflection can vary between adjectives, but in general the paradigm illustrated below is the most common.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://elevrom.sprakradet.no/skolen/minigrammatikk/tema/samsvarsboying_adjektiv|title=Språkrådet|website=elevrom.sprakradet.no|access-date=17 July 2018|archive-date=16 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180716004536/http://elevrom.sprakradet.no/skolen/minigrammatikk/tema/samsvarsboying_adjektiv|url-status=live}}</ref> 
{| class="wikitable"
|+Inflection patterns for adjectives in Norwegian
|-
! rowspan="3" |
! colspan="5" |[[Positive (linguistics)|Affirmative]]
! rowspan="3" |[[Comparative]]
! colspan="2" rowspan="2" |[[Superlative]]
|-
! colspan="4" |[[Definiteness|Indefinite]]
! rowspan="2" |[[Definiteness|Definite]]
|-
! colspan="2" |Common
![[Grammatical gender|Neuter]]
![[Plural]]
![[Definiteness|Indefinite]]
![[Definiteness|Definite]]
|-
!Bokmål
| colspan="2" rowspan="2" |''-''
| rowspan="2" |''-t''
| colspan="2" rowspan="2" |''-e''
|''-ere''
|''-est''
|''-este''
|-
!Nynorsk
|''-are''
|''-ast''
|''-aste''
|}
[[Predicate adjective]]s follow only the indefinite inflection table. Unlike [[attributive adjective]]s, they are not inflected for definiteness. 
{| class="wikitable"
|+Adjective forms, examples: {{lang|nb|grønn}}/{{lang|nn|grøn}} ('green'), {{lang|no|pen}} ('pretty'), {{lang|nb|stjålet}}''/''{{lang|nn|stolen}} ('stolen')
|-
! rowspan="3" |
! colspan="4" |[[Positive (linguistics)|Affirmative]]
! rowspan="3" |[[Comparative]]
! colspan="2" rowspan="2" |[[Superlative]]
|-
! colspan="3" |[[Definiteness|Indefinite]]
! rowspan="2" |[[Definiteness|Definite]]
|-
!Common
![[Grammatical gender|Neuter]]
![[Plural]]
![[Definiteness|Indefinite]]
![[Definiteness|Definite]]
|-
!Bokmål
|{{lang|nb|grønn}}
| rowspan="2" |{{lang|nb|grønt}}
| colspan="2" |{{lang|nb|grønne}}
|{{lang|nb|grønnere}}
|{{lang|nb|grønnest}}
|{{lang|nb|grønneste}}
|-
!Nynorsk
|{{lang|nn|grøn}}
| colspan="2" |{{lang|nn|grøne}}
|{{lang|nn|grønare}}
|{{lang|nn|grønast}}
|{{lang|nn|grønaste}}
|-
!English
| colspan="4" |green
|greener
| colspan="2" |greenest
|-
|-
!Bokmål
| rowspan="2" |{{lang|nb|pen}}
| rowspan="2" |{{lang|nb|pent}}
| colspan="2" rowspan="2" |{{lang|nb|pene}}
|{{lang|nb|penere}}
|{{lang|nb|penest}}
|{{lang|nb|peneste}}
|-
!Nynorsk
|{{lang|nn|penare}}
|{{lang|nn|penast}}
|{{lang|nn|penaste}}
|-
!English
| colspan="4" |pretty
|prettier
| colspan="2" |prettiest
|-
!Bokmål
|{{lang|nb|stjålet/stjålen}}
|{{lang|nb|stjålet}}
| colspan="2" |{{lang|nb|stjålne}}
|
|
|
|-
!Nynorsk
|{{lang|nn|stolen}}
|{{lang|nn|stole}}
| colspan="2" |{{lang|nn|stolne}}
|  –
|  –
|
|-
!English
| colspan="4" |stolen
| –
| –
|
|}
In most dialects, some verb participles used as adjectives have a separate form in both definite and plural uses,<ref>{{Cite book|title=Norwegian grammar|last=Berulfsen|first=Bjarne|date=1977|publisher=Aschehoug|isbn=978-8203043123|edition=4th|location=Oslo|oclc=4033534}}</ref> and sometimes also in the masculine-feminine singular. In some Southwestern dialects, the definite adjective is also declined in gender and number with one form for feminine and plural, and one form for masculine and neuter.

==== [[Attributive adjective]]s ====

===== Definite inflection =====
In Norwegian, a definite noun has a suffixed definite article (cf. above) compared to English which in general uses the separate word ''the'' to indicate the same. However, when a definite noun is preceded by an adjective, the adjective also gets a definite inflection, shown in the inflection table above. There is also another definite marker, {{lang|no|den}}, that has to agree in gender with the noun when the definite noun is accompanied by an adjective.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ntnu.edu/now2/4/grammatikk/1|title=1 Repetisjon|last=Fossen|first=Christian|website=www.ntnu.edu|language=en|access-date=14 July 2018|archive-date=14 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180714222053/https://www.ntnu.edu/now2/4/grammatikk/1|url-status=live}}</ref> It comes before the adjective and has the following forms
{| class="wikitable"
|+Determinative {{lang|nb|den}} (Bokmål)
|-
! Masculine
! Feminine
! Neuter
! Plural
|-
|{{lang|nb|Den}}
|{{lang|nb|Den}}
|{{lang|nb|Det}}
|{{lang|nb|De}}
|}

Examples of definite affirmative inflection of adjectives (Bokmål):

* {{lang|nb|Den '''stjålne''' bilen}} ('The '''''stolen''''' car')
* {{lang|nb|Den '''pene''' jenta}} ('The '''''pretty''''' girl')
* {{lang|nb|Det '''grønne''' eplet}} ('The '''''green''''' apple')
* {{lang|nb|De '''stjålne''' bilene}} ('The '''''stolen''''' cars')

If the adjective is dropped completely, the meaning of the preceding article before the noun changes, as shown in this example.

Examples (Bokmål):

* {{lang|nb|Den bilen}} ('That car')
* {{lang|nb|Den jenta}} ('That girl')
* {{lang|nb|Det eplet}} ('That apple')
* {{lang|nb|De bilene}} ('Those cars')

Examples of definite comparative and superlative inflection of adjectives (Bokmål):

* {{lang|nb|Det '''grønnere''' eplet}} ('The '''''greener''''' apple')
* {{lang|nb|Det '''grønneste''' eplet}} ('The '''''greenest''''' apple')

Definiteness is also signaled by using possessive pronouns or any uses of a noun in its genitive form in either Nynorsk or Bokmål: {{lang|no|mitt grønne hus}} ('my green house'), {{lang|no|min grønne bil}} ('my green car'), {{lang|no|mitt tilbaketrukne tannkjøtt}} ('my receding gums'), {{lang|no|presidentens gamle hus}} ('the president's old house').<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://elevrom.sprakradet.no/skolen/minigrammatikk/tema/samsvarsboying_adjektiv|title=Språkrådet|website=elevrom.sprakradet.no|access-date=12 July 2018|archive-date=16 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180716004536/http://elevrom.sprakradet.no/skolen/minigrammatikk/tema/samsvarsboying_adjektiv|url-status=live}}</ref>

===== Indefinite inflection =====
Examples (Bokmål):

* {{lang|nb|En '''grønn''' bil}} ('A '''''green''''' car')
* {{lang|nb|Ei '''pen''' jente}} ('A '''''pretty''''' girl')
* {{lang|nb|Et '''grønt''' eple}} ('A '''''green''''' apple')
* {{lang|nb|Flere '''grønne''' biler}} ('Many '''''green''''' cars')

Examples of comparative and superlative inflections in Bokmål: {{lang|nb|en grønnere bil}} ('a greener car'), {{lang|nb|grønnest bil}} ('greenest car').

====[[Adjective#Predicative adjective|Predicative adjectives]]====
There is also predicative agreement of adjectives in all dialects of Norwegian and in the written languages, unlike related languages like German and Dutch.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://ressurssidene.pedit.no/web/PageND.aspx?id=99235|title=Predikativ|website=ressurssidene.pedit.no|language=nb-NO|access-date=14 July 2018|archive-date=1 March 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230301002221/https://ressurssidene.pedit.no/web/PageND.aspx?id=99235|url-status=live}}</ref> This feature of predicative agreement is shared among the Scandinavian languages. Predicative adjectives do not inflect for definiteness unlike the attributive adjectives.

This means that nouns will have to agree with the adjective when there is a [[Copula (linguistics)|copula verb]] involved, like in Bokmål: {{lang|nb|være}} ('to be'), {{lang|nb|bli}} ('become'), {{lang|nb|ser ut}} ('looks like'), {{lang|nb|kjennes}} ('feels like') etc. 
{| class="wikitable"
|+Adjective agreement, examples
|-
!
!Norwegian (bokmål)
!English
|-
|'''Masculine'''
|{{lang|nb|Bilen var grønn}}
|The car was green
|-
|'''Feminine'''
|{{lang|nb|Døra er grønn}}
|The door is green
|-
|'''Neuter'''
|{{lang|nb|Flagget er grønt}}
| The flag is green
|-
|'''Plural'''
|{{lang|nb|Blåbærene blir store}}
|The blueberries will be big
|}

===Verbs===
{{See also|Nynorsk#Verb conjugation}}
{{Expand section|date=June 2019}}

Norwegian [[verb]]s are not [[Conjugation (grammar)|conjugated]] for [[Grammatical person|person]] or [[Grammatical number|number]], unlike [[English language|English]] and most [[European Languages|European languages]], though a few [[Norwegian dialects]] do conjugate for number. Norwegian verbs are conjugated according to mainly three [[grammatical mood]]s: [[Indicative mood|indicative]], [[Imperative mood|imperative]] and [[Subjunctive mood|subjunctive]], though the subjunctive mood has largely fallen out of use and is mainly found in a few common frozen expressions.<ref>{{Citation|title=modus – grammatikk|date=20 February 2018|url=http://snl.no/modus_-_grammatikk|work=Store norske leksikon|language=no|access-date=18 June 2019|archive-date=26 May 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190526082650/https://snl.no/modus_-_grammatikk|url-status=live}}</ref> The imperative is formed by removing the last vowel of the infinitive verb form, just like in the other Scandinavian languages.

Indicative verbs are conjugated for [[grammatical tense|tense]]: [[present tense|present]], [[past tense|past]], and [[Future tense|future]]. The present and past tense also have a [[passive voice|passive]] form for the infinitive.

There are four [[non-finite verb]] forms: [[infinitive]], [[passive voice|passive]] infinitive, and the two [[participle]]s: [[perfective]]/past participle and [[imperfective]]/present participle.

The participles are [[verbal adjective]]s. The imperfective participle is not declined, whereas the perfect participle is declined for [[grammatical gender|gender]] (though not in Bokmål) and [[grammatical number|number]] like strong, affirmative adjectives. The [[definiteness|definite]] form of the participle is identical to the plural form.

As with other Germanic languages, Norwegian verbs can be divided into two conjugation classes; [[germanic weak verb|weak]] verbs and [[germanic strong verb|strong]] verbs.

{| class="wikitable"
|+ Verb forms in Nynorsk<br>{{lang|nn|leva}} ('to live') and {{lang|nn|finna}} ('to find')
|-
! rowspan="4" |
! colspan="4" | [[Finite verb|Finite]]
! colspan="6" | [[Non-finite verb|Non-finite]]
|-
! colspan="2" | [[Indicative mood|Indicative]]
! rowspan="3" | [[Subjunctive mood|Subjunctive]]
! rowspan="3" | [[Imperative mood|Imperative]]
!               [[Verbal noun]]s
! colspan="5" | [[Verbal adjective]]s ([[Participle]]s)
|-
! rowspan="2" | [[Present tense|Present]]
! rowspan="2" | [[Past tense|Past]]
! rowspan="2" | [[Infinitive]]
! rowspan="2" | [[Imperfective]]
! colspan="4" | [[Perfective]]
|-
! Masculine
! Feminine
! Neuter
! Plural/Def
|-
! rowspan="2" | [[Active voice|Active]]
| {{lang|nn|lever}}
| {{lang|nn|levde}}
| {{lang|nn|leve}}
| {{lang|nn|lev}}
| {{lang|nn|leva}}
| {{lang|nn|levande}}
| colspan="2" | {{lang|nn|levd}}
| {{lang|nn|levt}}
| {{lang|nn|levde}}
|-
| {{lang|nn|finn}}
| {{lang|nn|fann}}
|
| {{lang|nn|finn}}
| {{lang|nn|finna}}
| (har) {{lang|nn|funne}}
| colspan="2" | {{lang|nn|funnen}}
| colspan="2" | {{lang|nn|funne}}
|-
! rowspan="2" | [[Passive voice|Passive]]
| {{lang|nn|levest}}
| {{lang|nn|levdest}}
|
|
| {{lang|nn|levast}}
|
|
|
|
|
|-
| {{lang|nn|finst}}
| {{lang|nn|fanst}}
|
|
| {{lang|nn|finnast}}
| {{lang|nn|(har) funnest}}
|
|
|
|
|}

{| class="wikitable"
|+ Verb forms in Bokmål<br>{{lang|nb|å leve}} ('to live') and {{lang|nb|å finne}} ('to find')
|-
! rowspan="4" |
! colspan="4" | [[Finite verb|Finite]]
! colspan="4" | [[Non-finite verb|Non-finite]]
|-
! colspan="2" | [[Indicative mood|Indicative]]
! rowspan="3" | [[Subjunctive mood|Subjunctive]]
! rowspan="3" | [[Imperative mood|Imperative]]
!               [[Verbal noun]]s
! colspan="3" | [[Verbal adjective]]s ([[Participle]]s)
|-
! rowspan="2" | [[Present tense|Present]]
! rowspan="2" | [[Past tense|Past]]
! rowspan="2" | [[Infinitive]]
! rowspan="2" | [[Imperfective]]
! colspan="2" | [[Perfective]]
|-
! Singular
! Plural/Def
|-
! rowspan="2" | [[Active voice|Active]]
| {{lang|nb|lever}}
| {{lang|nb|levde/levet}}
| {{lang|nb|leve}}
| {{lang|nb|lev}}
| {{lang|nb|leve}}
| {{lang|nb|levende}}
| {{lang|nb|levd}}
| {{lang|nb|levde/levet}}
|-
| {{lang|nb|finner}}
| {{lang|nb|fant}}
|
| {{lang|nb|finn}}
| {{lang|nb|finne}}
| {{lang|nb|(har) funnet}}
| {{lang|nb|funnet}}
| {{lang|nb|funne}}
|-
! rowspan="2" | [[Passive voice|Passive]]
| {{lang|nb|leves}}
| {{lang|nb|levdes}}
|
|
| {{lang|nb|leves}}
|
|
|
|-
| {{lang|nb|fins/finnes}}
| {{lang|nb|fantes}}
|
|
| {{lang|nb|finnes}}
| {{lang|nb|(har funnes)}}
|
|
|}

==== Ergative verbs ====
{{See also|Nynorsk#Ergative verbs}}
There are [[ergative verb]]s in both Bokmål and Nynorsk,<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://elevrom.sprakradet.no/skolen/minigrammatikk/tema/parverb|title=Språkrådet|website=elevrom.sprakradet.no|access-date=14 July 2018|archive-date=14 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180714222108/http://elevrom.sprakradet.no/skolen/minigrammatikk/tema/parverb|url-status=live}}</ref> where there are two different conjugation patterns depending on if the verb takes an object or not. In Bokmål, there are only two different conjugations for the [[Preterite Tense|preterite tense]] for the strong verbs, while Nynorsk has different conjugations for all tenses, like Swedish and a majority of Norwegian dialects. Some weak verbs are also ergative and are differentiated for all tenses in both Bokmål and Nynorsk, like {{lang|nb|ligge/legge}}, both of which meaning 'to lie down', but {{lang|nb|ligge}} does not take an object while {{lang|nb|legge}} requires an object. {{lang|nb|Legge}} corresponds to the English verb 'lay', while {{lang|nb|ligge}} corresponds to the English verb 'lie'. There are, however, many verbs that do not have a direct translation to English verbs.
{| class="wikitable"
|+Ergative verb {{lang|nb|knekke}} ('crack')
!Norwegian Bokmål
!English
|-
|{{lang|nb|Nøtta '''knakk'''}}
|The nut cracked
|-
|{{lang|nb|Jeg '''knekte''' nøtta}}
|I cracked the nut
|-
|{{lang|nb|Jeg '''ligger'''}}
|I'm lying down
|-
|{{lang|nb|Jeg '''legger''' det ned}}
|I'll lay it down
|}

===Pronouns===
{{See also|Nynorsk#Pronouns}}
Norwegian personal [[pronoun]]s are declined according to [[grammatical case|case]]: [[nominative case|nominative]] and [[accusative case|accusative]]. Like English, pronouns in Bokmål and Nynorsk are the only class that has case declension. Some of the dialects that have preserved the [[dative case|dative]] in nouns, also have a dative case instead of the accusative case in personal pronouns, while others have accusative in pronouns and dative in nouns, effectively giving these dialects three distinct cases.

In the most comprehensive Norwegian grammar, [[Norsk referansegrammatikk]], the categorization of personal pronouns by [[grammatical person|person]], [[grammatical gender|gender]], and [[grammatical number|number]] is not regarded as inflection. Pronouns are a [[closed class]] in Norwegian.

Since December 2017, the gender-neutral pronoun {{lang|no|hen}} is present in the Norwegian Academy's dictionary ([[NAOB]]).<ref>{{Cite web |title=Det Norske Akademis ordbok |url=https://naob.no/ordbok/hen_2 |access-date=14 September 2022 |website=naob.no |archive-date=16 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221016111829/https://naob.no/ordbok/hen_2 |url-status=live }}</ref> In June 2022, the Language Council of Norway ([[Language Council of Norway|Språkrådet]])<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=Hen |url=http://www.sprakradet.no/svardatabase/sporsmal-og-svar/hen/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220914194837/https://www.sprakradet.no/svardatabase/sporsmal-og-svar/hen/ |archive-date=14 September 2022 |access-date=14 September 2022 |website=Språkrådet |language=nb}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Ordbøkene.no – Bokmålsordboka og Nynorskordboka |url=https://ordbokene.no/bm,nn/ordbokene.no |access-date=14 September 2022 |website=ordbokene.no |language=no |archive-date=8 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221008165000/https://ordbokene.no/bm,nn/ordbokene.no |url-status=live }}</ref> started including {{lang|no|hen}} in both Bokmål and Nynorsk Norwegian standards.

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center"
|+Pronouns in Bokmål
! colspan="3" rowspan="3" |
! rowspan="3" |[[Subject (grammar)|Subject form]]
! rowspan="3" |[[Object (grammar)|Object form]]
! colspan="4" |Possessive
|-
! colspan="3" |Singular
! rowspan="2" |Plural
|-
!Male
!Female
!Neuter
|-
! rowspan="8" |Singular
! colspan="2" |1st person
|{{lang|nb|jeg}}
|{{lang|nb|meg}}
|{{lang|nb|min}}
|{{lang|nb|mi}}
|{{lang|nb|mitt}}
|{{lang|nb|mine}}
|-
! colspan="2" |2nd person
|{{lang|nb|du}}
|{{lang|nb|deg}}
|{{lang|nb|din}}
|{{lang|nb|di}}
|{{lang|nb|ditt}}
|{{lang|nb|dine}}
|-
! rowspan="6" |3rd person
!Male, [[Animacy|animate]]
|{{lang|nb|han}}
|{{lang|nb|ham/han}}
| colspan="4" |{{lang|nb|hans}}
|-
!Female, animate
|{{lang|nb|hun}}
|{{lang|nb|henne}}
| colspan="4" |{{lang|nb|hennes}}
|-
!Neuter, animate
|{{lang|nb|hen}}
|{{lang|nb|hen}}
| colspan="4" |{{lang|nb|hens}}
|-
!Male/female, inanimate
| colspan="2" |{{lang|nb|den}}
| colspan="4" |{{lang|nb|dens}}
|-
!Neuter, inanimate
| colspan="2" |{{lang|nb|det}}
| colspan="4" |{{lang|nb|dets}}
|-
!Reflexive
|–
|{{lang|nb|seg}}
|{{lang|nb|sin}}
|{{lang|nb|si}}
|{{lang|nb|sitt}}
|{{lang|nb|sine}}
|-
! rowspan="4" |Plural
! colspan="2" |1st person
|{{lang|nb|vi}}
|{{lang|nb|oss}}
| colspan="2" |{{lang|nb|vår}}
|{{lang|nb|vårt}}
|{{lang|nb|våre}}
|-
! colspan="2" |2nd person
| colspan="2" |{{lang|nb|dere}}
| colspan="4" |{{lang|nb|deres}}
|-
! rowspan="2" |3rd person
!Non-reflexive
|{{lang|nb|de}}
|{{lang|nb|dem}}
| colspan="4" |{{lang|nb|deres}}
|-
!Reflexive
|–
|{{lang|nb|seg}}
|{{lang|nb|sin}}
|{{lang|nb|si}}
|{{lang|nb|sitt}}
|{{lang|nb|sine}}
|}
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center"
|+Pronouns in Nynorsk
! colspan="3" rowspan="3" |
! rowspan="3" |[[Subject (grammar)|Subject form]]
! rowspan="3" |[[Object (grammar)|Object form]]
! colspan="4" |Possessive
|-
! colspan="3" |Singular
! rowspan="2" |Plural
|-
!Male
!Female
!Neuter
|-
! rowspan="7" |Singular
! colspan="2" |1st person
|{{lang|nn|eg}}
|{{lang|nn|meg}}
|{{lang|nn|min}}
|{{lang|nn|mi}}
|{{lang|nn|mitt}}
|{{lang|nn|mine}}
|-
! colspan="2" |2nd person
|{{lang|nn|du}}
|{{lang|nn|deg}}
|{{lang|nn|din}}
|{{lang|nn|di}}
|{{lang|nn|ditt}}
|{{lang|nn|dine}}
|-
! rowspan="5" |3rd person
!Male
|{{lang|nn|han}}
| {{lang|nn|han}}
| colspan="4" |{{lang|nn|hans}}
|-
!Female
|{{lang|nn|ho}}
|{{lang|nn|ho}}
| colspan="4" |{{lang|nn|hennar}}
|-
!Neuter, animate
|{{lang|nn|hen}}
|{{lang|nn|hen}}
| colspan="4" |{{lang|nn|hens}}
|-
!Neuter, inanimate
|{{lang|nn|det}}
|{{lang|nn|det}}
| colspan="4" |({{lang|nn|dess}})
|-
!Reflexive
|–
|{{lang|nn|seg}}
|{{lang|nn|sin}}
|{{lang|nn|si}}
|{{lang|nn|sitt}}
|{{lang|nn|sine}}
|-
! rowspan="4" |Plural
! colspan="2" |1st person
|{{lang|nn|vi/me}}
|{{lang|nn|oss}}
| colspan="2" |{{lang|nn|vår}}
|{{lang|nn|vårt}}
|{{lang|nn|våre}}
|-
! colspan="2" |2nd person
|{{lang|nn|de/dokker}}
|{{lang|nn|dykk/dokker}} 
| colspan="4" |{{lang|nn|dykkar/dokkar}}
|-
! rowspan="2" |3rd person
!Non-reflexive
| colspan="2" |{{lang|nn|dei}}
| colspan="4" |{{lang|nn|deira}}
|-
!Reflexive
|–
|{{lang|nn|seg}}
|{{lang|nn|sin}}
|{{lang|nn|si}}
|{{lang|nn|sitt}}
|{{lang|nn|sine}}
|}
The words for 'mine', 'yours' etc. are dependent on the gender of the noun described. Like adjectives, they have to agree in gender with the noun.

Bokmål has two sets of third-person pronouns. {{lang|nb|Han}} and {{lang|nb|hun}} refer to male and female individuals respectively; {{lang|nb|den}} and {{lang|nb|det}} refer to impersonal or inanimate nouns, of masculine/feminine or neutral gender respectively. In contrast, Nynorsk and most dialects use the same set of pronouns {{lang|nn|han}} ('he'), {{lang|nn|ho}} ('she') and {{lang|nn|det}} ('it') for both personal and impersonal references, like in [[German language|German]], [[Icelandic language|Icelandic]] and [[Old Norse]]. {{lang|no|Det}} also has [[Expletive pronoun|expletive]] and [[cataphora|cataphoric]] uses like in the English examples '''''it''' rains'' and '''''it''' was known by everyone '''(that) he had travelled the world'''''.
{| class="wikitable"
|+Examples in Nynorsk and Bokmål of the use of the pronoun ''it''

!Nynorsk
!Bokmål
!English
|-
|{{lang|nn|Kor er boka mi? '''Ho''' er her}}
|{{lang|nb|Hvor er boka mi? '''Den''' er her}}
|Where is my book? '''It''' is here
|-
|{{lang|nn|Kor er bilen min? '''Han''' er her}}
|{{lang|nb|Hvor er bilen min? '''Den''' er her}}
|Where is my car? '''It''' is here

|-
|{{lang|nn|Kor er brevet mitt? '''Det''' er her}}
|{{lang|nb|Hvor er brevet mitt? '''Det''' er her}}
|Where is my letter? '''It''' is here
|}

==== Ordering of possessive pronouns ====
The ordering of possessive pronouns is somewhat freer than in Swedish or Danish. When there is no adjective, the most common word order is the one used in the examples in the table above, where the possessive comes after the noun, while the noun is in its definite form; {{lang|no|boka mi}} ('my book'). If one wishes to emphasize the owner of the noun, the possessive pronoun will usually be placed first. In Bokmål, however, due to its Danish origins, one could choose to always write the possessive first: {{lang|nb|min bil}} ('my car'), but this may sound very formal. Some dialects that have been very influenced by Danish also do this; some speakers in [[Bærum]] and the [[Oslo West|west of Oslo]] may always use this word order. When there is an adjective describing the noun, the possessive pronoun will always come first: {{lang|no|min egen bil}} ('my own car').

{| class="wikitable"
!Norwegian (Bokmål/Nynorsk)
!English
|-
|{{lang|no|Det er '''mi''' bok!}}
|It is ''my'' book! (owner emphasized)
|-
|{{lang|no|Kona mi er vakker}}
|My wife is beautiful
|- {{lang|no|din}}, {{lang|no|di}}, {{lang|no|ditt}} (yours)
|}

===Determiners===
{{See also|Nynorsk#Determiners}}
The [[closed class]] of Norwegian [[Determiner (class)|determiner]]s are declined in [[grammatical gender|gender]] and [[grammatical number|number]] in agreement with their argument. Not all determiners are inflected.
{| class="wikitable"
|+ Determiner forms<br />{{lang|nb|egen}} (own) in Bokmål
|-
! Masculine
! Feminine
! Neuter
! Plural
|-
| {{lang|nb|egen/eigen}}
| {{lang|nb|egen/eiga}}
| {{lang|nb|eget/eige}}
| {{lang|nb|egne/eigne}}
|}

{| class="wikitable"
|+ Determiner forms<br/>{{lang|nn|eigen}} (own) in Nynorsk
|-
! Masculine
! Feminine
! Neuter
! Plural
|-
| {{lang|nn|eigen}}
| {{lang|nn|eiga}}
| {{lang|nn|eige}}
| {{lang|nn|eigne}}
|}

=== Numerals ===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center"
|+ Cardinal and ordinal number words in Bokmål and Nynorsk
! colspan="1" rowspan="2" |
! colspan="2" rowspan="1" |Cardinal numeral
! colspan="2" rowspan="1" |Ordinal numeral
|-
!Bokmål
!Nynorsk
!Bokmål
!Nynorsk
|-
!0
| colspan="2" rowspan="1" |{{lang|no|null}}
| colspan="2" rowspan="1" |{{lang|no|nulte}}
|-
!1
|{{lang|nb|én}} <small>({{tooltip|m.|masculine}})</small>, {{lang|nb|éi}} <small>({{tooltip|f.|feminine}})</small>, {{lang|nb|ett}} <small>({{tooltip|n.|neuter}})</small>
|{{lang|nn|éin}} <small>({{tooltip|m.|masculine}})</small>, {{lang|nn|éi}} <small>({{tooltip|f.|feminine}})</small>, {{lang|nn|eitt}} <small>({{tooltip|n.|neuter}})</small>
|{{lang|nb|første}}
|{{lang|nn|første}}/<br />{{lang|nn|fyrste}}
|-
!2
| colspan="2" |{{lang|no|to}}
|{{lang|nb|annen}} <small>({{tooltip|m.|masculine}}/{{tooltip|def.|definite}})</small>, {{lang|nb|anna}} <small>({{tooltip|f.|feminine}})</small>,<br />{{lang|nb|annet}} <small>({{tooltip|n.|neuter}})</small>, {{lang|nb|andre}} <small>({{tooltip|pl.|plural}})</small>/<br />{{lang|nb|andre}} <small>(all genres/def./pl.)</small><ref>{{Cite web |title=andre |url=https://ordbokene.no/bm/107465 |access-date=9 July 2024 |website=ordbøkene.no |language=nn}}</ref>
|{{lang|nn|annan}} <small>({{tooltip|m.|masculine}})</small>, {{lang|nn|anna}} <small>({{tooltip|f.|feminine}}/{{tooltip|n.|neuter}})</small>,<br />{{lang|nn|andre}} <small>({{tooltip|def.|definite}}/{{tooltip|pl.|plural}})</small>
|-
!3
| colspan="2" rowspan="1" |{{lang|no|tre}}
| colspan="2" rowspan="1" |{{lang|no|tredje}}
|-
!4
| colspan="2" rowspan="1" |{{lang|no|fire}}
| colspan="2" rowspan="1" |{{lang|no|fjerde}}
|-
!5
| colspan="2" rowspan="1" |{{lang|no|fem}}
| colspan="2" rowspan="1" |{{lang|no|femte}}
|-
!6
| colspan="2" rowspan="1" |{{lang|no|seks}}
| colspan="2" rowspan="1" |{{lang|no|sjette}}
|-
!7
|{{lang|nb|sju}}/<br />{{lang|nb|syv}}
|{{lang|nn|sju}}
|{{lang|nb|sjuende}}/<br />{{lang|nb|syvende}}
|{{lang|nn|sjuande}}
|-
!8
| colspan="2" rowspan="1" |{{lang|no|åtte}}
|{{lang|nb|åttende}}
|{{lang|nn|åttande}}
|-
!9
| colspan="2" rowspan="1" |{{lang|no|ni}}
|{{lang|nb|niende}}
|{{lang|nn|niande}}
|-
!10
| colspan="2" rowspan="1" |{{lang|no|ti}}
|{{lang|nb|tiende}}
|{{lang|nn|tiande}}
|-
!11
| colspan="2" rowspan="1" |{{lang|no|elleve}}
|{{lang|nb|ellevte}}
|{{lang|nn|ellevte}}
|-
!12
| colspan="2" rowspan="1" |{{lang|no|tolv}}
|{{lang|nb|tolvte}}
|{{lang|nn|tolvte}}
|-
!13
| colspan="2" rowspan="1" |{{lang|no|tretten}}
|{{lang|nb|trettende}}
|{{lang|nn|trettande}}
|-
!14
| colspan="2" rowspan="1" |{{lang|no|fjorten}}
|{{lang|nb|fjortende}}
|{{lang|nn|fjortande}}
|-
!15
| colspan="2" rowspan="1" |{{lang|no|femten}}
|{{lang|nb|femtende}}
|{{lang|nn|femtande}}
|-
!16
| colspan="2" rowspan="1" |{{lang|no|seksten}}
|{{lang|nb|sekstende}}
|{{lang|nn|sekstande}}
|-
!17
| colspan="2" rowspan="1" |{{lang|no|sytten}}
|{{lang|nb|syttende}}
|{{lang|nn|syttande}}
|-
!18
| colspan="2" rowspan="1" |{{lang|no|atten}}
|{{lang|nb|attende}}
|{{lang|nn|attande}}
|-
!19
| colspan="2" rowspan="1" |{{lang|no|nitten}}
|{{lang|nb|nittende}}
|{{lang|nn|nittande}}
|-
!20
| colspan="2" rowspan="1" |{{lang|no|tjue}}
|{{lang|nb|tjuende}}
|{{lang|nn|tjuande}}
|-
!21
|{{lang|nb|tjueen}}
|{{lang|nn|tjueein}}
|{{lang|nb|tjueførste}}
|{{lang|nn|tjueførste}}/<br />{{lang|nn|tjuefyrste}}
|-
!30
| colspan="2" rowspan="1" |{{lang|no|tretti}}
|{{lang|nb|trettiende}}
|{{lang|nn|trettiande}}
|-
!40
| colspan="2" rowspan="1" |{{lang|no|førti}}
|{{lang|nb|førtiende}}
|{{lang|nn|førtiande}}
|-
!50
| colspan="2" rowspan="1" |{{lang|no|femti}}
|{{lang|nb|femtiende}}
|{{lang|nn|femtiande}}
|-
!60
| colspan="2" rowspan="1" |{{lang|no|seksti}}
|{{lang|nb|sekstiende}}
|{{lang|nn|sekstiande}}
|-
!70
| colspan="2" rowspan="1" |{{lang|no|sytti}}
|{{lang|nb|syttiende}}
|{{lang|nn|syttiande}}
|-
!80
| colspan="2" rowspan="1" |{{lang|no|åtti}}
|{{lang|nb|åttiende}}
|{{lang|nn|åttiande}}
|-
!90
| colspan="2" rowspan="1" |{{lang|no|nitti}}
|{{lang|nb|nittiende}}
|{{lang|nn|nittiande}}
|-
!100
|{{lang|nb|(ett) hundre}}
|{{lang|nn|(eitt) hundre}}
|{{lang|nb|(ett) hundrede}}
|{{lang|nn|(eitt) hundrede}}
|-
!1000
|{{lang|nb|(ett) tusen}}
|{{lang|nn|(eitt) tusen}}
|{{lang|nb|(ett) tusende}}
|{{lang|nn|(eitt) tusende}}
|}

===Particle classes===
Norwegian has five [[closed class]]es without inflection, i.e. [[lexical category|lexical categories]] with grammatical function and a finite number of members that may not be distinguished by morphological criteria. These are [[interjection]]s, [[grammatical conjunction|conjunctions]], [[grammatical conjunction|subjunctions]], [[preposition]]s, and [[adverbs]]. The inclusion of adverbs here requires that traditional adverbs that are inflected in [[Comparison (grammar)|comparison]] be classified as adjectives, as is sometimes done.

==== Adverbs ====
[[Adverb]]s can be formed from [[adjective]]s in Norwegian. English usually creates adverbs from adjectives by the suffix ''-ly'', like the adverb ''beautifully'' from the adjective ''beautiful.'' By comparison, [[North Germanic languages|Scandinavian languages]] usually form adverbs from adjectives by the [[Neuter (grammar)|grammatical neuter]] singular form of the adjective. This is in general true for both Bokmål and Nynorsk.

Example ([[Bokmål]]):

* {{Lang|nb|Han er '''grusom'''}} ('He is '''terrible'''<nowiki/>')
* {{lang|nb|Det er '''grusomt'''}} ('It is '''terrible'''<nowiki/>')
* {{lang|nb|Han er '''grusomt''' treig}} ('He is '''terribly''' slow')

In the third sentence, {{lang|nb|grusomt}} is an adverb. In the first and second sentence {{lang|nb|grusomt}} and {{lang|nb|grusom}} are adjectives and must agree in grammatical gender with the noun.

Another example is the adjective {{lang|no|vakker}} ('beautiful') which exists in both Nynorsk and Bokmål and has the neuter singular form {{lang|nb|vakkert}}.

Example ([[Nynorsk]]):

* {{Lang|nn|Ho er '''vakker'''}} ('She is '''beautiful'''<nowiki/>') 
* {{Lang|nn|Det er '''vakkert'''}} ('It is '''beautiful'''<nowiki/>')
* {{Lang|nn|Ho syng '''vakkert'''}} ('She sings '''beautifully'''<nowiki/>')

===Compound words===
In Norwegian [[compound (linguistics)|compound words]], the [[head (linguistics)|head]], i.e. the part determining the compound's class, is the last part. If the compound word is constructed from many different nouns, the last noun in the compound noun will determine the gender of the compound noun. Only the first part has primary stress. For instance, the compound {{lang|no|tenketank}} ('think tank') has primary stress on the first syllable and is a masculine noun since the noun {{lang|no|tank}} is masculine.

Compound words are written together in Norwegian, which can cause words to become very long, for example {{lang|no|sannsynlighetsmaksimeringsestimator}} ('[[maximum likelihood]] [[estimator]]') and {{lang|no|menneskerettighetsorganisasjoner}} ('human rights organizations'). Other examples are the title {{lang|no|høyesterettsjustitiarius}} ('Chief Justice of the Supreme Court', originally a combination of ''[[supreme court]]'' and the actual title, ''[[justiciar]]'') and the translation {{Lang|no|En midtsommernattsdrøm}} for ''A Midsummer Night's Dream''.

If they are not written together, each part is naturally read with primary stress, and the meaning of the compound is lost. Examples of this in English are the difference between a green house and a greenhouse or a black board and a blackboard.

This is sometimes forgotten, occasionally with humorous results. Instead of writing, for example, ''{{lang|no|lammekoteletter}}'' ('lamb chops'), people make the mistake of writing {{lang|no|lamme koteletter}} ('lame', or 'paralyzed', 'chops'). The original message can even be reversed, as when {{lang|no|røykfritt}} (lit. 'smoke-free', meaning no smoking) becomes {{lang|no|røyk fritt}} ('smoke freely').

Other examples include:
* {{lang|no|Terrasse dør}} ('Terrace dies') instead of {{lang|no|Terrassedør}} ('Terrace door')
* {{lang|no|Tunfisk biter}} ('Tuna bites', verb) instead of {{lang|no|Tunfiskbiter}} ('Tuna bits', noun)
* {{lang|no|Smult ringer}} ('Lard calls', verb) instead of {{lang|no|Smultringer}} ('Doughnuts')
* {{lang|no|Tyveri sikret}} ('Theft guaranteed') instead of {{lang|no|Tyverisikret}} ('Theft-proof')
* {{lang|no|Stekt kylling lever}} ('Fried chicken lives', verb) instead of {{lang|no|Stekt kyllinglever}} ('Fried chicken liver', noun)
* {{lang|no|Smør brød}} ('Butter bread', verb) instead of {{lang|no|Smørbrød}} ('Sandwich')
* {{lang|no|Klipp fisk}} ('Cut fish', verb) instead of {{lang|no|Klippfisk}} ('Clipfish')
* {{lang|no|På hytte taket}} ('On cottage the roof') instead of {{lang|no|På hyttetaket}} ('On the cottage roof')
* {{lang|no|Altfor Norge}} ('Too Norway') instead of {{lang|no|Alt for Norge}} ('Everything for Norway', the [[Royal mottos of Norwegian monarchs|royal motto of Norway]])
These misunderstandings occur because most nouns can be interpreted as verbs or other types of words.
Similar misunderstandings can be achieved in English too. The following are examples of phrases that both in Norwegian and English mean one thing as a compound word, and something different when regarded as separate words:
* {{lang|no|stavekontroll}} ('spellchecker') or {{lang|no|stave kontroll}} ('spell checker')
* {{lang|no|kokebok}} ('cookbook') or {{lang|no|koke bok}} ('cook book')
* {{lang|no|ekte håndlagde vafler}} ('real handmade waffles') or {{lang|no|ekte hånd lagde vafler}} ('real hand made waffles')

=== Syntax ===
==== Word order ====
Norwegian syntax is predominantly [[Subject–verb–object|SVO]]. The subject occupies the sentence-initial position, followed by the verb and then the object. Like many other Germanic languages, it follows the [[V2 word order|V2 rule]], which means that the finite verb is invariably the second element in a sentence. For example:

* <u>{{lang|nb|Jeg|italics=no}}</u> {{Lang|nb|'''spiser'''|italic=no}} {{lang|nb|fisk|italics=no}} {{lang|nb|i dag}} ('<u>I</u> '''eat''' fish ''today''<nowiki/>')
* <u>{{lang|nb|Jeg|italics=no}}</u> {{Lang|nb|'''vil'''|italic=no}} {{lang|nb|drikke kaffe|italics=no}} {{lang|nb|i dag}} ('<u>I</u> '''want''' to drink coffee ''today''<nowiki/>')

Exceptions to the [[V2 word order|rule]] are embedded clauses and question phrases.

===== Negation =====
Negation in Norwegian is expressed by the word {{lang|no|ikke}}, which literally means 'not' and is placed after the finite verb. Exceptions are embedded clauses.

* {{lang|nb|Hunden kom '''ikke''' tilbake med ballen.}} ('The dog did '''not''' return with the ball.')
* {{lang|nb|Det var hunden som '''ikke''' kom tilbake.}} ('It was the dog that did '''not''' return.')

Contractions with the negation, as is accepted in for example English (''cannot'', ''hadn't'', ''didn't'') are limited to dialects and colloquial speech. In this case contractions apply to the negation and the verb. Otherwise {{lang|no|ikke}} is applied in similar ways as the English ''not'' and general [[Affirmation and negation|negation]].

===== Adverbs =====

Adverbs follow the verb they modify. Depending on the type of adverb, the order in which they appear in the phrase is pre-determined. Manner adverbs for example, precede temporal adverbs. Switching the order of these adverbs would not render the phrase ungrammatical, but would make it sound awkward. Compare this to the English phrase "John probably already ate dinner." Switching the adverbs' position (''already'' and ''probably'') to "John already probably ate dinner" is not incorrect, but sounds unnatural. For more information, see [[Cartographic syntax]].

* {{lang|nb|Hun sang '''rørende''' '''vakkert'''.}} ('She sang touchingly beautiful.')
* {{lang|nb|Hun sang '''utrolig''' '''høyt'''.}} ('She sang unbelievably loud.')

The adverb may precede the verb when the focus of the sentence is shifted. If special attention should be directed on the temporal aspect of the sentence, the adverb can be fronted. Since the V2 rule requires the finite verb to syntactically occupy the second position in the clause, the verb consequently also moves in front of the subject.

* {{lang|nb|I dag}} {{lang|nb|'''vil'''|italics=no}} <u>{{lang|nb|jeg|italics=no}}</u> {{lang|nb|drikke kaffe|italics=no}}. ('''Today'', <u>I</u> '''want''' to drink coffee.')
* {{lang|nb|I dag}} {{lang|nb|'''spiser'''|italics=no}} <u>{{lang|nb|jeg|italics=no}}</u> {{lang|nb|fisk|italics=no}}. ('''Today'', <u>I</u> '''eat''' fish.')

Only one adverb may precede the verb, unless it belongs to a bigger constituent, in which case it does not modify the main verb in the phrase, but is part of the constituent.

* {{lang|nb|Hun spiste suppen|italics=no}} {{lang|nb|'''raskt i går'''}}. ('She ate the soup quickly yesterday.')
* {{lang|nb|'''I går'''}} {{lang|nb|spiste|italics=no}} {{lang|nb|hun}} {{lang|nb|suppen raskt|italics=no}}. ('Yesterday she ate the soup quickly.')
* <u>{{lang|nb|Laget som spilte '''best'''|italics=no}}</u>, {{lang|nb|hadde forlatt plassen.|italics=no}} ('The team that played the best had left the pitch.')

===== Adjectives =====
Attributive adjectives always precede the noun that they modify.

* {{lang|nb|De '''tre store tjukke tunge røde''' bøkene stod i hylla.}} ('The '''three big fat heavy red''' books stood on the shelf.')
* {{lang|nb|Den '''andre heldigvis lange tynne''' nøkkelen passet.}} ('The '''other fortunately long thin''' key fit'.)