Referentes foráneos

Subjunctions are words that introduce subordinate clauses. The typical

subjunctions at ‘that,’ som ‘that, which,’ and om ‘if’ lack content almost entirely. Others denote a specific relation between the subordinate clause and its main clause, such as cause: ettersom ‘since’; time: mens ‘while’; etc.

3.8.2.1 Syntax and inflection

Subjunctions are not inflected. They are sometimes written as two or more words: fordi at ‘because,’ til tross for at ‘although,’ slik at ‘so that’ for at ‘in order to.’

3.8.2.2 The most common subjunctions

Among the most common subjunctions in Norwegian are at ‘that,’ som ‘that, which,’ om ‘if, whether’ and enn ‘than.’

At ‘that’ is used to introduce clauses that tell or report something, or clauses that denote a consequence. In the latter case it is almost always preceded by an adjective modified by så ‘so, as.’

(1) a. Han fortalte at han hadde fått ei tre kilo tung gjedde. he told that he had got a three kilo heavy pike ‘He told us that he had got a pike of three kilos.’

b. Forslaget om at huset skulle rives ble stemt ned. proposal.the about that house.the should demolish.PASSbecame voted down

‘The proposal that the house should be demolished was turned down.’ c. Han var så lykkelig at han danset.

he was so happy that he danced

Som ‘that, who, which,’ is used to introduce relative clauses or comparative clauses (and phrases). In the latter case it is normally translated by ‘as’ in English, and it is almost always preceded by an adjective modified by like ‘as.’ (2) a. mannen som står der borte

man.the that stands there away ‘the man standing over there’

b. Jeg kjenner ei jente som bor i Tønsberg. I know a girl that lives in Tønsberg

c. Det gamle huset, som er bygd i 1870, har blitt flyttet to ganger.

the old house.the that is built in 1870 has been moved two times ‘The old house, which was built in 1870, has been moved twice.’ d. Jeg har like dyre bukser som du har.

I have as expensive trousers as you have

Som is also used to double a questioned subject in a subordinate clause. (3) Vi vet hvem som har kjøpt den.

we know who that has bought it ‘We know who has bought it.’

Om is used to introduce conditional clauses or interrogative clauses, which correspond to yes-no questions.

(4) a. Om det ikke regner så drar vi på utflukt. if it not rains then go we on picnic ‘If it doesn’t rain, we will go for a picnic.’

b. Eva spurte om vi ville være med. Eva asked if we wanted be with ‘Eva asked if we wanted to come along.’

Enn is used to introduce comparative clauses (or phrases). They are almost always preceded by a comparative adjective or an adjective modified by mer ‘more.’

(5) a. Du har en bedre sykkel enn jeg har. you have a better bike than I have b. Dette er mer interessant enn jeg trodde. this is more interesting than I thought

3.8.2.3 Subjunctions grouped according to their meaning

Subjunctions may signal many different sorts of connections between the main clause and the subordinate clause. They may for instance express time, that is that the event in the subordinate clause is simultaneous to, earlier, or later than the event of the main clause. In a similar way they can express that the

subordinate clause constitutes a condition for or a reason to the event of the main clause. The most common subjunctions are listed below.

Temporal subjunctions: når/da ‘when,’før ‘before,’ til ‘until,’ mens ‘while,’ siden ‘after, since.’

(1) a. Du må hjelpe meg med klesvasken før vi kan gå. you must help me with laundry.the before we can go ‘You must help me with the laundry before we can go.’ b. Hun smilte da han gikk.

she smiled when he left

Causal subjunctions: ettersom ‘as, because, since,’for (at) ‘because,’ fordi (at) ‘because,’ av at ‘in that.’

(2) Han gikk ettersom hun ikke snakket med ham. he left since she not talked with him ‘He left since she didn’t talk to him.’

Conditional subjunctions: om ‘if,’ hvis ‘if,’ så vidt ‘insofar as,’ forutsatt at ‘provided that.’

(3) Jeg hjelper deg om/hvis du vil. I help you if you want ‘I’ll help you if you want me to.’

Concessive subjunctions: til tross for at ‘though,’ selv om ‘although,’ skjønt ‘even though.’

(4) Vi arbeider til tross for at / selv om vi ikke får noen lønn. we work to despite for that even if we not get any salary ‘We are working, even though we don´t get paid.’

Final subjunctions: for at ‘in order to.’

(5) Vi må selge bilen for at vi skal klare det. we must sell car.the for that we shall manage it ‘We must sell the car, in order to make it.’ Consecutive subjunctions: slik at ‘so that.’ (6) Han jobbet slik at han ble rød i ansiktet.

he worked such that he became red in face.the ‘He worked so that his face became red.’

Comparative subjunctions: (like)...som ‘as...as,’ (slik/sånn) som ‘as,’ liksom ‘as,’ enn ‘than,’ jo...desto/dess/jo ‘the...the,’ som om ‘as if.’

(7) a. Han gjorde som de ba ham om å gjøre. he did as they asked him about to do ‘He did what they asked him to do.’ b. Jo større de er, desto hardere faller de. the bigger they are the harder fall they ‘The bigger they are, the harder they fall.’

Descriptive subjunctions: av at ‘in that,’ uten at ‘not that, without.’ (8) a. Han ble reddet av at kameratene grep inn.

he became saved of that friends.the grabbed in ‘He was saved because his friends intervened.’

b. Vi må hjelpe Henning uten at læreren merker det. we must help Henning without that teacher.the notices it ‘We must help Henning without the teacher noticing.’