Language/Norwegian-bokmal/Grammar/Infinitive-and-present-participle-forms

Norwegian Bokmål → Grammar → 0 to A1 Course → Infinitive and present participle forms

Welcome to another exciting lesson in our Complete 0 to A1 Norwegian Bokmål Course! Today, we will dive into the fascinating world of verb forms in Norwegian Bokmål, focusing on the infinitive and present participle. Understanding these forms is crucial for constructing sentences and expressing actions effectively in Norwegian.

Why Are Infinitive and Present Participle Forms Important?

Verbs are the heart of any sentence; they tell us what action is happening. In Norwegian Bokmål, verbs can exist in different forms, depending on how we want to use them. The infinitive form is like the base form of a verb, similar to "to eat" or "to run" in English. The present participle, on the other hand, is used to indicate an ongoing action, much like "eating" or "running."

By mastering these forms, you'll be able to:

• Express activities: Whether it's what you do daily or what you're currently doing, you'll have the tools to convey your actions.

• Construct more complex sentences: By combining verbs with other elements in a sentence, you can share more detailed thoughts.

• Understand others better: Knowing these forms will enhance your comprehension when listening or reading in Norwegian.

Lesson Structure

1. Infinitive Form

• Definition

• Formation

• Examples

2. Present Participle Form

• Definition

• Formation

• Examples

3. Exercises

• Practice scenarios

• Detailed solutions

Before we jump in, let’s take a moment to look at the table of contents for this lesson.

Infinitive Form

Definition

The infinitive form of a verb is its basic, unconjugated form. In Norwegian Bokmål, infinitives typically end with -e. For example, å spise (to eat) or å løpe (to run).

Formation

In Norwegian, you can recognize the infinitive form easily:

• Most verbs end in -e.

• Some verbs are irregular and may not follow this pattern.

Here are some examples of infinitive forms:

Norwegian Bokmål	Pronunciation	English
å spise	/oː ˈspiːsə/	to eat
å løpe	/oː ˈløːpə/	to run
å lese	/oː ˈleːsə/	to read
å skrive	/oː ˈskriːvə/	to write
å danse	/oː ˈdɑːnsə/	to dance

It's important to note that you use å (which means "to") before the verb to form the infinitive.

Present Participle Form

Definition

The present participle form describes an action that is currently ongoing. In Norwegian Bokmål, this form usually ends with -ende. For example, spisende (eating) or løpende (running).

Formation

To create the present participle from the infinitive, follow these general rules:

• Remove -e from the infinitive and add -ende.

• Some verbs may have slight changes before adding -ende.

Here are some examples of present participle forms:

Norwegian Bokmål	Pronunciation	English
spisende	/ˈspiːsəndə/	eating
løpende	/ˈløːpəndə/	running
lesende	/ˈleːsəndə/	reading
skrivende	/ˈskriːvəndə/	writing
dansende	/ˈdɑːnsəndə/	dancing

Notice how the ending changes to convey the ongoing nature of the action.

Practice Exercises

Now that we've covered the definitions and formations of both the infinitive and present participle forms, let’s put your knowledge to the test! Below are some exercises designed to reinforce what you've learned.

Exercise 1: Identify the Infinitive

Instructions: For each of the following sentences, identify the infinitive form of the verb.

1. Jeg liker å danse.

2. Han begynner å lese.

3. Vi vil løpe i parken.

Answers:

1. danse

2. lese

3. løpe

Exercise 2: Convert to Present Participle

Instructions: Change the infinitive verbs in the following sentences to their present participle forms.

1. Jeg ser på filmen (å se).

2. De spiller fotball (å spille).

3. Hun synger en sang (å synge).

Answers:

1. Jeg ser på filmen (se → seende): Jeg ser på filmen seende.

2. De spiller fotball (spille → spillende): De spiller fotball spillende.

3. Hun synger en sang (synge → syngende): Hun synger en sang syngende.

Exercise 3: Fill in the Blanks

Instructions: Fill in the blanks with the correct infinitive or present participle form of the verb in parentheses.

1. Jeg liker ______ (å spise) pizza.

2. Han er ______ (å danse) på scenen.

3. Vi er ______ (å lese) bøker.

Answers:

1. Jeg liker å spise pizza.

2. Han er dansende på scenen.

3. Vi er lesende bøker.

Exercise 4: Rewrite the Sentences

Instructions: Rewrite the following sentences by changing the verb to the requested form (infinitive or present participle).

1. Han synger (present participle).

2. Vi jogger (infinitive).

3. Jeg skriver (present participle).

Answers:

1. Han er syngende.

2. Vi liker å jogge.

3. Jeg er skrivende.

Exercise 5: Match the Forms

Instructions: Match the infinitive forms on the left with their corresponding present participle forms on the right.

| Infinitive | Present Participle |

|------------------|---------------------|

| å spise | spisende |

| å danse | dansende |

| å lese | lesende |

| å skrive | skrivende |

| å løpe | løpende |

Answers:

1. å spise - spisende

2. å danse - dansende

3. å lese - lesende

4. å skrive - skrivende

5. å løpe - løpende

Exercise 6: Short Answer

1. What is the infinitive form of the verb "to read" in Norwegian Bokmål?

2. How do you form the present participle from the verb "å skrive"?

Answers:

1. å lese

2. Remove -e and add -ende to form skrivende.

Exercise 7: Sentence Creation

Instructions: Create sentences using the following verbs in both infinitive and present participle forms.

1. å danse

2. å skrive

Example Sentences:

1. Infinitive: Jeg elsker å danse. (I love to dance.)

Present Participle: Jeg ser på folk som danser. (I watch people dancing.)

2. Infinitive: Han begynner å skrive. (He starts to write.)

Present Participle: Hun er skrivende hele dagen. (She is writing all day.)

Exercise 8: True or False

Instructions: Read the following statements and write "True" or "False."

1. The infinitive form of a verb ends in -ende. (False)

2. Present participle shows ongoing action. (True)

3. All verbs in Norwegian Bokmål follow the same pattern for the infinitive form. (False)

Exercise 9: Fill in the Correct Form

Instructions: Use the correct form (infinitive or present participle) of the verb in parentheses.

1. Jeg drømmer om ______ (å reise).

2. De er ______ (å jogge) for helse.

3. Han liker ______ (å lage) mat.

Answers:

1. Jeg drømmer om å reise.

2. De er joggende for helse.

3. Han liker å lage mat.

Exercise 10: Verb Transformation

Instructions: Transform the following infinitives into present participles.

1. å snakke

2. å spille

3. å lære

Answers:

1. snakkende

2. spillende

3. lærende

Conclusion

You’ve made fantastic progress in understanding the infinitive and present participle forms in Norwegian Bokmål! Remember, mastering these forms will greatly enhance your ability to communicate effectively. Keep practicing, and soon you’ll find yourself constructing sentences with ease!

Table of Contents - Norwegian Bokmål Course - 0 to A1

• Course Presentation

  ---

Introduction to Norwegian Bokmål

• Alphabet and Pronunciation
• Basic Sentence Structure

  ---

Greetings and Introductions

• Basic Greetings
• Introducing Yourself

  ---

Nouns and Pronouns

• Gender and Definite Articles
• Personal Pronouns

  ---

Numbers and Time

• Numbers 1-100
• Telling Time

  ---

Verbs and Tenses

• Present Tense
• Past Tense

  ---

Daily Activities

• Daily Routine
• Hobbies and Interests

  ---

Adjectives and Adverbs

• Adjective Agreement
• Comparatives and Superlatives

  ---

Food and Drink

• Common Foods
• Eating Out

  ---

Prepositions and Conjunctions

• Common Prepositions
• Coordinating Conjunctions

  ---

Travel and Transportation

• Modes of Transportation
• Asking for Directions

  ---

Questions and Negation

• Question Words
• Negation

  ---

Family and Relationships

• Family Members
• Expressing Emotions

  ---

Norwegian Customs and Traditions

• Holidays and Celebrations
• Etiquette and Social Norms

Other Lessons

• How to Use Be
• Advanced sentence structure and syntax
• Basic sentence structure
• Relative clauses
• Present tense verbs
• Conditional Mood
• Negation
• Definite and indefinite forms of nouns
• Future Tense