verbB1
Parverb: transitive og intransitive verb
[Paired Verbs: Transitive and Intransitive]Paired verbs resemble each other but differ fundamentally: one is transitive (requires a direct object) with weak conjugation, while the other is intransitive (used without an object) with strong conjugation. Learn the distinction between 'la/lå', 'senket/sank', 'brente/brant', and 'hengte/hang'.
1. What are Paired Verbs? The Golden Rule of Transitivity and Conjugation
Some verbs closely resemble each other in form and meaning. They are called paired verbs. The fundamental rule in Norwegian is:
A. The Transitive Verb (action directed at a direct object):
Jeg legger boka på bordet. (Subjekt: jeg, Verb: legger, Objekt: boka)I put the book on the table. (Subject: jeg, Verb: legger, Object: boka)
B. The Intransitive Verb (state or process without a direct object):
Boka ligger på bordet. (Subjekt: boka, Verb: ligger — intet objekt)The book lies on the table. (Subject: boka, Verb: ligger — no direct object)
Morphological rule: The verb WITH an object is almost always weak (brente, knekte, senket). The verb WITHOUT an object is almost always strong with a vowel shift (brant, knakk, sank).
2. Paired Verbs with Distinct Infinitives
These verb pairs feature distinct vowel stems in the infinitive. Notice which ones govern a direct object:
Intransitive (no object)
å ligge (ligger)(to lie)
Past / Perfect
lå / har ligget
Transitive (+ object)
å legge (+ objekt)(to lay / put)
Past / Perfect
la / har lagt
Example (with translation)
Hun lå i sola i fem timer. / Jeg la på meg fem kilo i jula.(She lay in the sun for five hours. / I gained five kilos over Christmas.)
Intransitive (no object)
å sitte (sitter)(to sit)
Past / Perfect
satt / har sittet
Transitive (+ object)
å sette (+ objekt)(to set / put)
Past / Perfect
satte / har satt
Example (with translation)
Satt du lenge i møtet? / Han satte seg i stolen foran meg.(Did you sit long in the meeting? / He sat down in the chair in front of me.)
Intransitive (no object)
å våkne (våkner)(to wake up)
Past / Perfect
våknet / har våknet
Transitive (+ object)
å vekke (+ objekt)(to wake (someone))
Past / Perfect
vekket / har vekket
Example (with translation)
Han våknet midt på natta. / Jeg måtte vekke samboeren min.(He woke up in the middle of the night. / I had to wake my partner.)
Intransitive (no object)
å springe (løpe)(to run)
Past / Perfect
sprang / har sprunget
Transitive (+ object)
å sprenge (+ objekt)(to blow up / detonate)
Past / Perfect
sprengte / har sprengt
Example (with translation)
Jeg sprang ut av bilen. / Terroristen sprengte bomben.(I ran out of the car. / The terrorist detonated the bomb.)
Intransitive (no object)
å synke (gå ned)(to sink)
Past / Perfect
sank / har sunket
Transitive (+ object)
å senke (+ objekt)(to lower)
Past / Perfect
senket / har senket
Example (with translation)
Båten sank til bunns. / Regjeringen senket fartsgrensen.(The boat sank to the bottom. / The government lowered the speed limit.)
Intransitive (no object)
å minke (bli mindre)(to decrease)
Past / Perfect
minket / har minket
Transitive (+ object)
å minske (+ objekt)(to reduce)
Past / Perfect
minsket / har minsket
Example (with translation)
Utslippene minket under krisen. / Vi bygger sykkelveier for å minske biltrafikken.(Emissions decreased during the crisis. / We build bike paths to reduce car traffic.)
| Intransitive (no object) | Past / Perfect | Transitive (+ object) | Past / Perfect | Example (with translation) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
å ligge (ligger)to lie | lå / har ligget | å legge (+ objekt)to lay / put | la / har lagt | Hun lå i sola i fem timer. / Jeg la på meg fem kilo i jula.She lay in the sun for five hours. / I gained five kilos over Christmas. |
å sitte (sitter)to sit | satt / har sittet | å sette (+ objekt)to set / put | satte / har satt | Satt du lenge i møtet? / Han satte seg i stolen foran meg.Did you sit long in the meeting? / He sat down in the chair in front of me. |
å våkne (våkner)to wake up | våknet / har våknet | å vekke (+ objekt)to wake (someone) | vekket / har vekket | Han våknet midt på natta. / Jeg måtte vekke samboeren min.He woke up in the middle of the night. / I had to wake my partner. |
å springe (løpe)to run | sprang / har sprunget | å sprenge (+ objekt)to blow up / detonate | sprengte / har sprengt | Jeg sprang ut av bilen. / Terroristen sprengte bomben.I ran out of the car. / The terrorist detonated the bomb. |
å synke (gå ned)to sink | sank / har sunket | å senke (+ objekt)to lower | senket / har senket | Båten sank til bunns. / Regjeringen senket fartsgrensen.The boat sank to the bottom. / The government lowered the speed limit. |
å minke (bli mindre)to decrease | minket / har minket | å minske (+ objekt)to reduce | minsket / har minsket | Utslippene minket under krisen. / Vi bygger sykkelveier for å minske biltrafikken.Emissions decreased during the crisis. / We build bike paths to reduce car traffic. |
3. Paired Verbs with Identical Infinitives but Divergent Preterites (Weak vs. Strong)
This is the most notorious group: infinitive and present forms are identical, but in the preterite, the presence of an object determines weak vs. strong conjugation:
Infinitive
å brenne(to burn)
Transitive (with object, weak form)
brente / har brent: De tyske styrkene brente ned Finnmark.(German forces burned down Finnmark.)
Intransitive (no object, strong form)
brant / har brent: Da jeg snudde meg, så jeg at huset brant.(When I turned around, I saw that the house was burning.)
Infinitive
å henge(to hang)
Transitive (with object, weak form)
hengte / har hengt: Vi hengte opp bildet i stua.(We hung the picture in the living room.)
Intransitive (no object, strong form)
hang / har hengt: Bildet hang i stua i mange år.(The picture hung in the living room for years.)
Infinitive
å knekke(to snap / crack)
Transitive (with object, weak form)
knekte / har knekt: Forskerne knekte de hemmelige kodene.(The researchers cracked the secret codes.)
Intransitive (no object, strong form)
knakk / har knekt: Pinnen knakk i to i stormen.(The stick snapped in two in the storm.)
Infinitive
å slenge(to swing / fling)
Transitive (with object, weak form)
slengte / har slengt: De slengte fra seg jakkene på gulvet.(They tossed their jackets onto the floor.)
Intransitive (no object, strong form)
slang / har slengt: Døra sto åpen og slang i vinden.(The door was open and swinging in the wind.)
Infinitive
å smelle(to slam / bang)
Transitive (with object, weak form)
smelte / har smelt: Han smelte døra igjen i sinne.(He slammed the door shut in anger.)
Intransitive (no object, strong form)
smalt / har smelt: Det smalt høyt ute på gaten.(There was a loud bang out in the street.)
Infinitive
å sprette(to bounce / pop open)
Transitive (with object, weak form)
sprettet / har sprettet: Vi sprettet en flaske for å feire.(We popped open a bottle to celebrate.)
Intransitive (no object, strong form)
spratt / har sprettet: Han spratt opp fra stolen av glede.(He sprang up from the chair in joy.)
Infinitive
å fryse(to freeze)
Transitive (with object, weak form)
fryste / har fryst: Hun fryste ned bærene fra hagen.(She froze down berries from the garden.)
Intransitive (no object, strong form)
frøs / har frosset: Vannet i rørene frøs til is i natt.(The water in the pipes froze to ice last night.)
| Infinitive | Transitive (with object, weak form) | Intransitive (no object, strong form) |
|---|---|---|
å brenneto burn | brente / har brent: De tyske styrkene brente ned Finnmark.German forces burned down Finnmark. | brant / har brent: Da jeg snudde meg, så jeg at huset brant.When I turned around, I saw that the house was burning. |
å hengeto hang | hengte / har hengt: Vi hengte opp bildet i stua.We hung the picture in the living room. | hang / har hengt: Bildet hang i stua i mange år.The picture hung in the living room for years. |
å knekketo snap / crack | knekte / har knekt: Forskerne knekte de hemmelige kodene.The researchers cracked the secret codes. | knakk / har knekt: Pinnen knakk i to i stormen.The stick snapped in two in the storm. |
å slengeto swing / fling | slengte / har slengt: De slengte fra seg jakkene på gulvet.They tossed their jackets onto the floor. | slang / har slengt: Døra sto åpen og slang i vinden.The door was open and swinging in the wind. |
å smelleto slam / bang | smelte / har smelt: Han smelte døra igjen i sinne.He slammed the door shut in anger. | smalt / har smelt: Det smalt høyt ute på gaten.There was a loud bang out in the street. |
å spretteto bounce / pop open | sprettet / har sprettet: Vi sprettet en flaske for å feire.We popped open a bottle to celebrate. | spratt / har sprettet: Han spratt opp fra stolen av glede.He sprang up from the chair in joy. |
å fryseto freeze | fryste / har fryst: Hun fryste ned bærene fra hagen.She froze down berries from the garden. | frøs / har frosset: Vannet i rørene frøs til is i natt.The water in the pipes froze to ice last night. |