Understanding Relative Pronouns in Norwegian: The Role of “Som”

Relative pronouns are essential tools in any language, allowing us to connect clauses and add details without starting a new sentence. In modern Norwegian, the relative pronoun “som” (who, which, that) is the most commonly used. This article explores how “som” functions in Norwegian, providing detailed explanations, examples, and comparing it with other relative pronouns like “der,” “hvor,” “hvis,” and “hva.”

The Basics: What Are Relative Pronouns?

Relative pronouns are words that link a relative clause to a main clause, providing additional information about a noun without starting a new sentence. In Norwegian, “som” is the primary relative pronoun and can refer to both people and objects. It can function as both the subject and the object of the relative clause.

What Is “Som”?

“Som” means “who,” “which,” or “that” in English. It is used to add more information about a noun mentioned earlier in the sentence.

Examples of “Som” as Subject:

1. Referring to a Person:
   • Norwegian: “Mannen som bor der, er legen min.”
   • English: “The man who lives there is my doctor.”
2. Referring to an Object:
   • Norwegian: “Boken som ligger på bordet, er min.”
   • English: “The book that is on the table is mine.”

In these examples, “som” acts as the subject of the relative clause (bor and ligger).

Examples of “Som” as Object:

1. Referring to a Person:
   • Norwegian: “Kvinnen som jeg møtte i går, er min nye nabo.”
   • English: “The woman whom I met yesterday is my new neighbor.”
2. Referring to an Object:
   • Norwegian: “Filmen som vi så i går, var veldig bra.”
   • English: “The movie that we watched yesterday was very good.”

Here, “som” acts as the object of the relative clause (møtte and så).

Grammar Point: Positioning of “Som”

In Norwegian, “som” usually follows the noun or pronoun it refers to directly. This positioning is crucial for clarity and grammatical correctness.

Relative Clauses

A relative clause introduced by “som” provides additional information about the noun. These clauses can be either defining (restrictive) or non-defining (non-restrictive):

1. Defining Clause:
   • Norwegian: “Hunden som bjeffer, er min.”
   • English: “The dog that is barking is mine.”

   A defining clause specifies exactly which dog is being talked about.

2. Non-Defining Clause:
   • Norwegian: “Oslo, som er hovedstaden i Norge, er en vakker by.”
   • English: “Oslo, which is the capital of Norway, is a beautiful city.”

   A non-defining clause adds extra information about Oslo but isn’t necessary to understand which city is being referred to.

Omission of the Relative Pronoun

In some cases, especially in spoken Norwegian, the relative pronoun “som” can be omitted if it functions as the object of the relative clause. However, it is often retained for clarity.

• Norwegian (Omitted): “Boken jeg leser, er interessant.”
• Norwegian (Retained): “Boken som jeg leser, er interessant.”
• English: “The book (that) I am reading is interesting.”

Practical Vocabulary and Situational Examples

To better understand the use of “som,” let’s explore various vocabulary words and situational sentences illustrating its application.

Vocabulary

• Mann (man) – mannen (the man)
• Kvinne (woman) – kvinnen (the woman)
• Bok (book) – boka (the book)
• Hus (house) – huset (the house)
• Bil (car) – bilen (the car)
• Film (movie) – filmen (the movie)
• By (city) – byen (the city)
• Dag (day) – dagen (the day)
• Mat (food) – maten (the food)
• Kake (cake) – kaken (the cake)

Situational Examples

1. Describing People:
   • Norwegian: “Mannen som står der, er sjefen min.”
   • English: “The man who is standing there is my boss.”
   • Norwegian: “Kvinnen som synger, er veldig talentfull.”
   • English: “The woman who is singing is very talented.”
2. Describing Objects:
   • Norwegian: “Huset som vi kjøpte, trenger mye arbeid.”
   • English: “The house that we bought needs a lot of work.”
   • Norwegian: “Boken som ligger på bordet, er min favoritt.”
   • English: “The book that is on the table is my favorite.”
3. Events and Actions:
   • Norwegian: “Bilen som hun kjører, er ny.”
   • English: “The car that she is driving is new.”
   • Norwegian: “Filmen som vi så i går, var spennende.”
   • English: “The movie that we watched yesterday was exciting.”
4. Providing Additional Information:
   • Norwegian: “Stavanger, som er kjent for sine oljeindustrier, har vakre strender.”
   • English: “Stavanger, which is known for its oil industries, has beautiful beaches.”
   • Norwegian: “Oslo, som er hovedstaden i Norge, har mange museer.”
   • English: “Oslo, which is the capital of Norway, has many museums.”

Comparison with Other Relative Pronouns

While “som” is the most common relative pronoun in Norwegian, there are other relative pronouns used in specific contexts. Understanding these helps highlight the versatility and dominance of “som.”

Using “Der” and “Hvor”

“Der” (where) and “hvor” (where) are used to refer to places, providing a relative clause with a spatial context.

Examples with “Der”:

1. Referring to a Place:
   • Norwegian: “Byen der jeg ble født, er liten.”
   • English: “The town where I was born is small.”
   • Norwegian: “Stedet der vi møttes, er nå en restaurant.”
   • English: “The place where we met is now a restaurant.”

Examples with “Hvor”:

1. Providing Location Context:
   • Norwegian: “Stedet hvor vi møttes, er min favoritt.”
   • English: “The place where we met is my favorite.”
   • Norwegian: “Landet hvor jeg ble født, er vakkert.”
   • English: “The country where I was born is beautiful.”

Using “Hvis” and “Hva”

“Hvis” (whose) and “hva” (what) are less common but important relative pronouns used in Norwegian.

Examples with “Hvis”:

1. Indicating Possession:
   • Norwegian: “Mannen hvis bil ble stjålet, er sint.”
   • English: “The man whose car was stolen is angry.”
   • Norwegian: “Kvinnen hvis datter vant konkurransen, er stolt.”
   • English: “The woman whose daughter won the competition is proud.”

Examples with “Hva”:

1. Referring to Something Undefined:
   • Norwegian: “Jeg vet ikke hva han sa.”
   • English: “I don’t know what he said.”
   • Norwegian: “Hun forklarte hva som skjedde.”
   • English: “She explained what happened.”

Practical Comparison and Differences

“Som” vs. “Der” and “Hvor”

• “Som”: Can be used for both people and objects as subjects or objects.
  • Example: “Boken som jeg leser, er interessant.” (The book that I am reading is interesting).
  • Example: “Filmen som vi så, var spennende.” (The movie that we watched was exciting).
• “Der” and “Hvor”: Specifically refer to places.
  • Example with “Der”: “Byen der jeg bor, er vakker.” (The town where I live is beautiful).
  • Example with “Hvor”: “Stedet hvor vi møttes, er min favoritt.” (The place where we met is my favorite).

“Som” vs. “Hvis”

• “Som”: Does not indicate possession.
  • Example: “Mannen som jeg møtte, er snill.” (The man whom I met is kind).
  • Example: “Huset som vi kjøpte, trenger renovering.” (The house that we bought needs renovation).
• “Hvis”: Specifically indicates possession.
  • Example: “Kvinnen hvis hus ble solgt, flyttet til Oslo.” (The woman whose house was sold moved to Oslo).
  • Example: “Mannen hvis hund er borte, er trist.” (The man whose dog is lost is sad).

“Som” vs. “Hva”

• “Som”: Refers to a specific noun mentioned earlier.
  • Example: “Filmen som vi så, var spennende.” (The movie that we watched was exciting).
  • Example: “Boken som du ga meg, er bra.” (The book that you gave me is good).
• “Hva”: Refers to an undefined or unspecified antecedent.
  • Example: “Jeg forstår ikke hva du sier.” (I don’t understand what you are saying).
  • Example: “Jeg vet ikke hva som skjedde.” (I don’t know what happened).

Situational Examples Highlighting Differences

1. Describing a Place:
   • With “Som”: “Huset som vi besøkte, var gammelt.” (The house that we visited was old).
   • With “Der”: “Stedet der vi møttes, var stille.” (The place where we met was quiet).
   • With “Hvor”: “Byen hvor jeg vokste opp, er liten.” (The town where I grew up is small).
2. Indicating Possession:
   • With “Som”: “Mannen som jeg møtte, er snill.” (The man whom I met is kind).
   • With “Hvis”: “Mannen hvis hund er borte, er trist.” (The man whose dog is lost is sad).
3. Undefined Antecedents:
   • With “Som”: “Boken som du ga meg, er bra.” (The book that you gave me is good).
   • With “Hva”: “Jeg forstår ikke hva du sier.” (I don’t understand what you are saying).

More Vocabulary and Examples

Vocabulary

• Barn (child) – barnet (the child)
• Kake (cake) – kaken (the cake)
• Bygning (building) – bygningen (the building)
• Blomst (flower) – blomsten (the flower)
• Skole (school) – skolen (the school)
• Bord (table) – bordet (the table)
• Fjell (mountain) – fjellet (the mountain)

Additional Situational Examples

1. Describing Buildings and Places:
   • Norwegian: “Bygningen som er høyest, er et kontor.”
   • English: “The building that is the tallest is an office.”
   • Norwegian: “Fjellet som vi besteg, var utfordrende.”
   • English: “The mountain that we climbed was challenging.”
2. Describing Time and Events:
   • Norwegian: “Dagen som vi feiret, var spesiell.”
   • English: “The day that we celebrated was special.”
   • Norwegian: “Året som vi tilbrakte i utlandet, var lærerikt.”
   • English: “The year that we spent abroad was educational.”
3. Describing Objects:
   • Norwegian: “Blomsten som du ga meg, er vakker.”
   • English: “The flower that you gave me is beautiful.”
   • Norwegian: “Kaken som vi bakte, smakte fantastisk.”
   • English: “The cake that we baked tasted fantastic.”

Conclusion

Understanding the role of the relative pronoun “som” in Norwegian is crucial for constructing clear and informative sentences. “Som” is versatile, functioning as both subject and object, and is used to provide additional information about a noun. By mastering “som” and comparing it with other relative pronouns like “der,” “hvor,” “hvis,” and “hva,” learners can significantly enhance their proficiency in Norwegian. The proper use of relative pronouns enriches language skills and enables more precise and expressive communication. With a solid grasp of “som” and its counterparts, you will be well-equipped to navigate complex sentences and convey detailed information effectively.