Norwegian Verbs Made Easy: 15 Verbs with Regular Conjugations

Verbs are an essential part of any language, and Norwegian is no exception. They are the words that express actions, states, or occurrences. Without verbs, it would be impossible to communicate effectively in any language. In Norwegian, verbs play a crucial role in constructing sentences and conveying meaning.

Norwegian verbs can be classified into two main categories: regular and irregular. Regular verbs follow a predictable pattern when conjugated, while irregular verbs have unique conjugations that do not follow a set pattern. In this article, we will focus on regular verb conjugations in Norwegian.

Key Takeaways

• Norwegian verbs have regular and irregular conjugations.
• Regular conjugations follow a predictable pattern based on the verb’s infinitive form.
• 15 common Norwegian verbs have regular conjugations in all tenses.
• Present tense conjugations of regular verbs involve adding suffixes to the stem of the verb.
• Past tense conjugations of regular verbs involve adding -te or -de to the stem of the verb.
• Future tense conjugations of regular verbs involve adding -r to the stem of the verb.
• Imperative form of regular verbs is the same as the present tense form for all pronouns except for the second person singular.
• Infinitive form of regular verbs ends in -e.
• Examples of regular verbs in sentences include “Jeg spiser frokost hver dag” (I eat breakfast every day) and “Vi snakker norsk sammen” (We speak Norwegian together).
• Tips for mastering regular verb conjugations in Norwegian include practicing regularly, memorizing common verbs, and paying attention to the patterns in the conjugations.

Understanding Regular Conjugations

Regular verb conjugations in Norwegian are relatively straightforward once you understand the patterns. The conjugation of regular verbs depends on the tense (present, past, future), mood (indicative, imperative), and person (first person, second person, third person).

In the present tense, regular verbs are conjugated by adding specific endings to the verb stem. For example, the verb “å snakke” (to speak) becomes “jeg snakker” (I speak), “du snakker” (you speak), “han/hun snakker” (he/she speaks), and so on.

In the past tense, regular verbs are typically conjugated by adding the suffix “-te” or “-de” to the verb stem. For example, the verb “å spise” (to eat) becomes “jeg spiste” (I ate), “du spiste” (you ate), “han/hun spiste” (he/she ate), and so on.

In the future tense, regular verbs are conjugated by adding the auxiliary verb “skal” before the infinitive form of the verb. For example, the verb “å lese” (to read) becomes “jeg skal lese” (I will read), “du skal lese” (you will read), “han/hun skal lese” (he/she will read), and so on.

15 Common Norwegian Verbs with Regular Conjugations

To help you practice regular verb conjugations in Norwegian, here is a list of 15 common verbs with their conjugations in different tenses and forms:

1. å være (to be)
Present tense: jeg er, du er, han/hun er, vi er, dere er, de er
Past tense: jeg var, du var, han/hun var, vi var, dere var, de var
Future tense: jeg skal være, du skal være, han/hun skal være, vi skal være, dere skal være, de skal være
Imperative form: vær
Infinitive form: å være

2. å ha (to have)
Present tense: jeg har, du har, han/hun har, vi har, dere har, de har
Past tense: jeg hadde, du hadde, han/hun hadde, vi hadde, dere hadde, de hadde
Future tense: jeg skal ha, du skal ha, han/hun skal ha, vi skal ha, dere skal ha, de skal ha
Imperative form: ha
Infinitive form: å ha

3. å gjøre (to do)
Present tense: jeg gjør, du gjør, han/hun gjør, vi gjør, dere gjør, de gjør
Past tense: jeg gjorde, du gjorde, han/hun gjorde, vi gjorde, dere gjorde, de gjorde
Future tense: jeg skal gjøre, du skal gjøre, han/hun skal gjøre, vi skal gjøre, dere skal gjøre, de skal gjøre
Imperative form: gjør
Infinitive form: å gjøre

4. å se (to see)
Present tense: jeg ser, du ser, han/hun ser, vi ser, dere ser, de ser
Past tense: jeg så, du så, han/hun så, vi så, dere så, de så
Future tense: jeg skal se, du skal se, han/hun skal se, vi skal se, dere skal se, de skal se
Imperative form: se
Infinitive form: å se

5. å spise (to eat)
Present tense: jeg spiser, du spiser, han/hun spiser, vi spiser, dere spiser, de spiser
Past tense: jeg spiste, du spiste, han/hun spiste, vi spiste, dere spiste, de spiste
Future tense: jeg skal spise, du skal spise, han/hun skal spise, vi skal spise, dere skal spise, de skal spise
Imperative form: spis
Infinitive form: å spise

6. å drikke (to drink)
Present tense: jeg drikker, du drikker, han/hun drikker, vi drikker, dere drikker, de drikker
Past tense: jeg drakk, du drakk, han/hun drakk, vi drakk, dere drakk, de drakk
Future tense: jeg skal drikke, du skal drikke, han/hun skal drikke, vi skal drikke, dere skal drikke, de skal drikke
Imperative form: drikk
Infinitive form: å drikke

7. å lese (to read)
Present tense: jeg leser, du leser, han/hun leser, vi leser, dere leser, de leser
Past tense: jeg leste, du leste, han/hun leste, vi leste, dere leste, de leste
Future tense: jeg skal lese, du skal lese, han/hun skal lese, vi skal lese, dere skal lese, de skal lese
Imperative form: les
Infinitive form: å lese

8. å skrive (to write)
Present tense: jeg skriver, du skriver, han/hun skriver, vi skriver, dere skriver, de skriver
Past tense: jeg skrev, du skrev, han/hun skrev, vi skrev, dere skrev, de skrev
Future tense: jeg skal skrive, du skal skrive, han/hun skal skrive, vi skal skrive, dere skal skrive, de skal skrive
Imperative form: skriv
Infinitive form: å skrive

9. å snakke (to speak)
Present tense: jeg snakker, du snakker, han/hun snakker, vi snakker, dere snakker, de snakker
Past tense: jeg snakket, du snakket, han/hun snakket, vi snakket, dere snakket, de snakket
Future tense: jeg skal snakke, du skal snakke, han/hun skal snakke, vi skal snakke, dere skal snakke, de skal snakke
Imperative form: snakk
Infinitive form: å snakke

10. å jobbe (to work)
Present tense: jeg jobber, du jobber, han/hun jobber, vi jobber, dere jobber, de jobber
Past tense: jeg jobbet, du jobbet, han/hun jobbet, vi jobbet, dere jobbet, de jobbet
Future tense: jeg skal jobbe, du skal jobbe, han/hun skal jobbe, vi skal jobbe, dere skal jobbe, de skal jobbe
Imperative form: jobb
Infinitive form: å jobbe

11. å sove (to sleep)
Present tense: jeg sover, du sover, han/hun sover, vi sover, dere sover, de sover
Past tense: jeg sov, du sov, han/hun sov, vi sov, dere sov, de sov
Future tense: jeg skal sove, du skal sove, han/hun skal sove, vi skal sove, dere skal sove, de skal sove
Imperative form: sov
Infinitive form: å sove

12. å gå (to go)
Present tense: jeg går, du går, han/hun går, vi går, dere går, de går
Past tense: jeg gikk, du gikk, han/hun gikk, vi gikk, dere gikk, de gikk
Future tense: jeg skal gå, du skal gå, han/hun skal gå, vi skal gå, dere skal gå, de skal gå
Imperative form: gå
Infinitive form: å gå

13. å komme (to come)
Present tense: jeg kommer, du kommer, han/hun kommer, vi kommer, dere kommer, de kommer
Past tense: jeg kom, du kom, han/hun kom, vi kom, dere kom, de kom
Future tense: jeg skal komme, du skal komme, han/hun skal komme, vi skal komme, dere skal komme, de skal komme
Imperative form: kom
Infinitive form: å komme

14. å se (to see)
Present tense: jeg ser, du ser, han/hun ser, vi ser, dere ser, de ser
Past tense: jeg så, du så, han/hun så, vi så, dere så, de så
Future tense: jeg skal se, du skal se, han/hun skal se, vi skal se, dere skal se, de skal se
Imperative form: se
Infinitive form: å se

15. å vite (to know)
Present tense: jeg vet, du vet, han/hun vet, vi vet, dere vet, de vet
Past tense: jeg visste, du visste, han/hun visste, vi visste, dere visste, de visste
Future tense: jeg skal vite, du skal vite, han/hun skal vite, vi skal vite, dere skal vite, de skal vite
Imperative form: vit
Infinitive form: å vite

Present Tense Conjugations of Regular Verbs

The present tense is used to describe actions happening in the present or habitual actions. To conjugate regular verbs in the present tense in Norwegian, you need to add specific endings to the verb stem.

For example:
– The verb “å snakke” (to speak) becomes “jeg snakker” (I speak), “du snakker” (you speak), “han/hun snakker” (he/she speaks), “vi snakker” (we speak), “dere snakker” (you speak), “de snakker” (they speak).

– The verb “å lese” (to read) becomes “jeg leser” (I read), “du leser” (you read), “han/hun leser” (he/she reads), “vi leser” (we read), “dere leser” (you read), “de leser” (they read).

It’s important to note that the verb stem remains the same in the present tense, and only the endings change depending on the person.

Past Tense Conjugations of Regular Verbs

The past tense is used to describe actions that have already happened in the past. To conjugate regular verbs in the past tense in Norwegian, you typically add the suffix “-te” or “-de” to the verb stem.

For example:
– The verb “å spise” (to eat) becomes “jeg spiste” (I ate), “du spiste” (you ate), “han/hun spiste” (he/she ate), “vi spiste” (we ate), “dere spiste” (you ate), “de spiste” (they ate).

– The verb “å lese” (to read) becomes “jeg leste” (I read), “du leste” (you read), “han/hun leste” (he/she read), “vi leste” (we read), “dere leste” (you read), “de leste” (they read).

It’s important to note that some verbs may have irregular past tense forms, so it’s always a good idea to consult a reliable resource or dictionary when conjugating irregular verbs.

Future Tense Conjugations of Regular Verbs

The future tense is used to describe actions that will happen in the future. To conjugate regular verbs in the future tense in Norwegian, you need to add the auxiliary verb “skal” before the infinitive form of the verb.

For example:
– The verb “å lese” (to read) becomes “jeg skal lese” (I will read), “du skal lese” (you will read), “han/hun skal lese” (he/she will read), “vi skal lese” (we will read), “dere skal lese” (you will read), “de skal lese” (they will read).

– The verb “å jobbe” (to work) becomes “jeg skal jobbe” (I will work), “du skal jobbe” (you will work), “han/hun skal jobbe” (he/she will work), “vi skal jobbe” (we will work), “dere skal jobbe” (you will work), “de skal jobbe” (they will work).

It’s important to note that the auxiliary verb “skal” is used for all persons in the future tense, and only the infinitive form of the verb is used without any changes.

Imperative Form of Regular Verbs

The imperative form is used to give commands or instructions. To form the imperative form of regular verbs in Norwegian, you typically remove the infinitive marker “å” and add specific endings depending on the person.

For example:
– The verb “å være” (to be) becomes “vær” (be) in the imperative form.

– The verb “å spise” (to eat) becomes “spis” (eat) in the imperative form.

It’s important to note that the imperative form of a verb is used to give commands or instructions. It is typically used when the speaker wants someone to do something. The imperative form is formed by using the base form of the verb without any subject pronouns. For example, “Eat your vegetables” or “Close the door.” It is a direct and concise way of conveying a message or request.

If you’re looking to expand your Norwegian vocabulary beyond verbs, check out the article “Mastering Norwegian Food Vocabulary: A Delicious Learning Journey.” This article takes you on a culinary adventure, teaching you essential food-related words and phrases in Norwegian. From traditional dishes to popular ingredients, you’ll learn how to navigate menus and communicate your preferences in Norwegian. Whether you’re a foodie or simply want to enhance your language skills, this article is a must-read. Read more