A2 Norwegian GrammarCoordinating Conjunctions
Master Norwegian coordinating conjunctions to connect words, phrases, and clauses. Learn how to use 'og' (and), 'men' (but), 'eller' (or), and 'for' (because) to build compound sentences. Understand when conjunctions do and don't affect word order.
1Basic Coordinating Conjunctions
Norwegian has four main coordinating conjunctions: 'og' (and), 'men' (but), 'eller' (or), and 'for' (because/for). These connect elements of equal grammatical rank. Coordinating conjunctions do not change the word order of the clause that follows them.
Main Coordinating Conjunctions
| Norwegian | English | Function | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| og | and | Addition | kaffe og te |
| men | but | Contrast | liten men sterk |
| eller | or | Alternative | nå eller aldri |
| for | because/for | Reason | ...for jeg er trøtt |
Examples
Jeg liker kaffe og te.
I like coffee and tea.
og connects two nouns
Han er ung, men veldig klok.
He is young but very wise.
men shows contrast
Vil du ha fisk eller kjøtt?
Do you want fish or meat?
eller presents alternatives
Jeg går hjem, for jeg er sliten.
I'm going home because I'm tired.
for gives a reason
2Connecting Clauses with 'og' and 'men'
When connecting two main clauses, 'og' and 'men' keep normal word order (subject-verb) in the second clause. A comma is optional before these conjunctions when connecting short clauses, but recommended for longer sentences to improve clarity.
Clause Connection Patterns
| Conjunction | Pattern | Word Order |
|---|---|---|
| og | Clause 1 + og + Clause 2 | Subject-Verb-Object |
| men | Clause 1 + men + Clause 2 | Subject-Verb-Object |
| eller | Clause 1 + eller + Clause 2 | Subject-Verb-Object |
| for | Clause 1 + for + Clause 2 | Subject-Verb-Object |
Examples
Hun jobber og han studerer.
She works and he studies.
Two independent clauses with og
Jeg ville komme, men jeg hadde ikke tid.
I wanted to come, but I didn't have time.
Contrast between two clauses
Vi kan spise ute eller vi kan lage mat hjemme.
We can eat out or we can cook at home.
Two alternatives as full clauses
Han ble hjemme, for han var syk.
He stayed home because he was sick.
Reason clause with for
3Additional Coordinating Words
Norwegian has additional words that function like coordinating conjunctions: 'så' (so), 'både...og' (both...and), 'verken...eller' (neither...nor), and 'enten...eller' (either...or). These patterns help express more complex relationships between ideas.
Correlative Conjunctions
| Norwegian | English | Pattern |
|---|---|---|
| både...og | both...and | både A og B |
| verken...eller | neither...nor | verken A eller B |
| enten...eller | either...or | enten A eller B |
| så | so/therefore | Clause 1, så Clause 2 |
Examples
Hun snakker både norsk og engelsk.
She speaks both Norwegian and English.
både...og emphasizes inclusion
Han spiser verken fisk eller kjøtt.
He eats neither fish nor meat.
verken...eller = negative pair
Du må enten komme nå eller vente til i morgen.
You must either come now or wait until tomorrow.
enten...eller = choice between two
Det regnet, så vi ble hjemme.
It rained, so we stayed home.
så shows result/consequence
4Common Mistakes to Avoid
Learners often confuse coordinating conjunctions with subordinating conjunctions like 'fordi' (because). While 'for' and 'fordi' both mean 'because', they have different effects on word order. Also, avoid overusing 'og' at the beginning of sentences.
'for' vs 'fordi'
| Conjunction | Type | Word Order | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| for | Coordinating | No change | ...for jeg er trøtt |
| fordi | Subordinating | Verb to end | ...fordi jeg er trøtt |
| og | Coordinating | No change | Jeg spiser og drikker |
| men | Coordinating | No change | Jeg er trøtt, men glad |
Examples
Jeg går hjem for jeg er trøtt.
I'm going home because I'm tired.
for = coordinating (normal order)
Jeg går hjem fordi jeg er trøtt.
I'm going home because I'm tired.
fordi = subordinating (same meaning)
Det er kaldt, men solen skinner.
It's cold, but the sun is shining.
Comma recommended before men
Vi spiste pizza og så en film.
We ate pizza and watched a movie.
og connects two actions