Language/Norwegian-bokmal/Grammar/Negation

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Norwegian Bokmål Grammar - Negation

Hi Norwegian Bokmål learners! 😊
In this lesson, we will be focusing on negation in Norwegian Bokmål. Negation is the process of expressing the absence, refusal or denial of something.

Don't miss the chance to check out these pages as you wrap up this lesson: Norwegian Bokmål Grammar Lesson: Common Prepositions, Norwegian Bokmål Grammar Questions and Negation Question Words, Questions & Personal Pronouns.

Introduction

Negation is a crucial aspect of any language, and Norwegian Bokmål is no exception. In Norwegian Bokmål, negation is expressed using the words "ikke" and "aldri". As a Norwegian Bokmål language teacher with 20 years of experience, I will guide you through this important topic with cultural information and interesting facts.

To improve your Norwegian Bokmål Grammar, you can also use the Polyglot Club website. Find native speakers and ask them any questions!

Negation with "ikke"

In Norwegian Bokmål, the word "ikke" is used to express negation. It is usually placed immediately after the verb, but can also be placed before a noun or an adjective.

For example:

Norwegian Bokmål	Pronunciation	English
Jeg liker ikke iskrem.	/jɛi ˈli:kər ɪkə ˈiskrɛm/	I don't like ice cream.

In this example, "ikke" is placed immediately after the verb "liker", which means "like", to express negation.

Here is another example:

Norwegian Bokmål	Pronunciation	English
Det er ikke varmt ute.	/dɛt ɛr ˈɪkə vɑrm ˈu:tə/	It is not hot outside.

In this example, "ikke" is placed after the adjective "varmt", which means "hot", to express negation.

Another important point to note is that if the verb in the sentence is in the imperative form, then "ikke" comes after the verb. For example:

Norwegian Bokmål	Pronunciation	English
Spis ikke for mye sjokolade!	/spi:s ˈɪkə føɾ myə ˈʃukʊlɑdə/	Don't eat too much chocolate!

In this example, "ikke" is placed after the verb "spis", which is in the imperative form, to express negation.

One interesting fact about Norwegian Bokmål is that unlike English, double negatives are used in Norwegian. For example:

Norwegian Bokmål	Pronunciation	English
Jeg ser ingen ting.	/jɛi seɾ ˈɪŋən tɪŋ/	I don't see anything.

In this example, "ingen" means "nothing", and "ting" means "thing". So, when combined together with "ikke", the sentence literally means "I see not nothing", which is a double negative.

Negation with "aldri"

In addition to "ikke", Norwegian Bokmål also uses the word "aldri" to express negation. "Aldri" means "never" in English, and is used to express a complete absence of something.

Here is an example:

Norwegian Bokmål	Pronunciation	English
Jeg har aldri smakt sushi.	/jɛi hɑr ˈɑldri smɑk ˈsʉʃi/	I have never tasted sushi.

In this example, "aldri" is used to express a complete absence of ever tasting sushi.

An important point to note is that "ikke" and "aldri" cannot be used together in a sentence to express negation. For example, the sentence "Jeg har ikke aldri smakt sushi" would be incorrect in Norwegian Bokmål.

Here is a dialogue to see these words in context:

Person 1: Jeg spiser aldri kjøtt. (I never eat meat.)
Person 2: Hvorfor ikke? (Why not?)
Person 1: Fordi jeg er vegetarianer. (Because I am a vegetarian.)

Conclusion

In conclusion, negation is an important topic in Norwegian Bokmål grammar. In this lesson, we have learned how to use the words "ikke" and "aldri" to express negation. Remember that "ikke" is used to express a partial negation, while "aldri" is used to express a complete absence of something. If you have any questions, please ask them in the comments section below.

➡ Feel free to edit this wiki page if you think it can be improved. 😎

Sources

With this lesson finished, you may want to explore these additional pages: Basic Sentence Structure, Give your Opinion, Past Tense & Coordinating Conjunctions.

Other Lessons

Table of Contents - Norwegian Bokmål Course - 0 to A1

Course Presentation

Introduction to Norwegian Bokmål

Greetings and Introductions

Nouns and Pronouns

Numbers and Time

Verbs and Tenses

Daily Activities

Adjectives and Adverbs

Food and Drink

Prepositions and Conjunctions

Travel and Transportation

Questions and Negation

Family and Relationships

Norwegian Customs and Traditions

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