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Types of argument constituents in Norwegian
Grammar traditions often classify sentence constituents according to whether they are 'required', or 'valence bound', by the main verb; those that are, are often called arguments, and those that are not, adjuncts. (This is not always easy to decide.) In one use of the word complement, adopted here, this is any type of argument apart from the subject. The constituent types listed below are commonly considered as arguments relative to the main verb, and are all found in Norwegian:
subject
object ('direct object')
indirect object (used in combination with 'direct object')
sentential complement (when not being classified as object)
oblique, i.e., a PP where the governed NP has a role defined relative to the head
the 'presented' NP in a presentational construction
secondary predicate
complement of a predicational or identifying Copula
'adverbial complement', i.e., a PP, Adv or AdvP serving as argument
'particle', an adverb with aspectual or less tangible impact
The following examples illustrate the placement of some of these types - subject, direct and indirect object, and oblique - and an adjunct, called adverbial, at the end of the clause. The examples at the same type illustrate the rather strict order of constituents in Norwegian: The subject precedes the verb, objects immediately follow the verb and precede any oblique arguments or adverbials. When there are two objects, the indirect object is the one occurring closest to the main verb. Case is marked only on personal pronouns, with a subject – non-subject distinction. (See Personal pronouns in Norwegian.) Subject and Main Verb are generally necessary for making a grammatically wellformed clause.
(1) Jeg skjenker deg et sverd før slaget.
Example with the pattern [ Subject Vmain IndirectObject DirectObject Adverbial ]:
Jeg skjenker deg et sverd før slaget.
“I give you a sword before the battle”
| skjenker |
| skjenk | er |
| give | PRES |
| V |
| slaget |
| slag | et |
| battle | NEUTSGDEF |
| N |
Subject Vmain Indir.Obj. DirectObject Adverbial
(2) Jeg snakket om henne etter slaget
Example with the pattern [ Subject Vmain Oblique Adverbial ]:
Jeg snakket om henne etter slaget.
“I talked about her after the battle”
| snakket |
| snakke | t |
| talk | PRET |
| V |
| slaget |
| slag | et |
| battle | NEUTSGDEF |
| N |
Subject Vmain Oblique Adverbial
(3) Det ruller en ball hit
Example with the pattern [ ExpletiveSubject Vmain DirectObject DirectionalAdvbl ]:
det ruller en ball hit
“a ball is rolling here”
| ruller |
| rull | er |
| roll | PRES |
| Vitr |
Subject Vmain DirectObject DirectionalAdvbl
Abbreviations in blue script:
SBJ - subject
EXPL - 'expletive', in the sense 'empty of meaning'
DECL - declarative
OBJ - object ('direct object')
OBJind - indirect object (used in combination with 'direct object')
COMP - sentential complement (when not being classified as object)
OBL - oblique, i.e., a PP where the governed NP has a role defined relative to the head
SC - secondary predicate
(4) Det venter ham en ulykke
Example with the pattern [ ExpletiveSubject Vmain IndirectObject DirectObject ]:
det venter ham en ulykke
“there awaits him an accident”
| venter |
| vent | er |
| await | PRES |
| Vtr |
Subject Vmain Indir.Obj. DirectObject
Abbreviations in blue script:
SBJ - subject
EXPL - 'expletive', in the sense 'empty of meaning'
DECL - declarative
OBJ - object ('direct object')
OBJind - indirect object (used in combination with 'direct object')
COMP - sentential complement (when not being classified as object)
OBL - oblique, i.e., a PP where the governed NP has a role defined relative to the head
SC - secondary predicate
(5) Regnet varer ved
Example with the pattern [ Subject Vmain AspectualAdvbl ]:
regnet varer ved
“the rain persists”
| regnet |
| regn | et |
| rainSBJ | DEFSGNEUT |
| N |
Subject Vmain AspectualAdvbl
Abbreviations in blue script:
SBJ - subject
EXPL - 'expletive', in the sense 'empty of meaning'
DECL - declarative
OBJ - object ('direct object')
OBJ ind- indirect object (used in combination with 'direct object')
COMP - sentential complement (when not being classified as object)
OBL - oblique, i.e., a PP where the governed NP has a role defined relative to the head
SC - secondary predicate
(6) At han sover hender
Example with the pattern [ SententialSubject Vmain ]:
at han sover hender
“that he sleeps occurs”
| sover |
| sov | er |
| sleep | PRES |
| Vitr |
| hender |
| hend | er |
| occur | PRES |
| Vitr |
Subject Vmain
Subject Vmain
Abbreviations in blue script:
SBJ - subject
EXPL - 'expletive', in the sense 'empty of meaning'
DECL - declarative
OBJ - object ('direct object')
IOBJ - indirect object (used in combination with 'direct object')
COMP - sentential complement (when not being classified as object)
OBL - oblique, i.e., a PP where the governed NP has a role defined relative to the head
SC - secondary predicate
PRTCL - 'particle', an adverb with aspectual or less tangible impact
(7) Ola leer på seg
Example with the pattern [ Subject Vmain AspectualAdvbl ]:
Ola leer på seg
“Ola moves [a little]”
Abbreviations in blue script:
SBJ - subject
EXPL - 'expletive', in the sense 'empty of meaning'
DECL - declarative
OBJ - object ('direct object')
IOBJ - indirect object (used in combination with 'direct object')
COMP - sentential complement (when not being classified as object)
OBL - oblique, i.e., a PP where the governed NP has a role defined relative to the head
SC - secondary predicate
PRTCL - 'particle', an adverb with aspectual or less tangible impact
(8) Jeg fryser på ryggen
Example with the pattern [ Subject Vmain Oblique-for-bodypart ]:
jeg fryser på ryggen
“I feel cold on my back”
| fryser |
| frys | er |
| freeze | PRES |
| Vitr |
| ryggen |
| rygg | en |
| back | DEFSGMASC |
| N |
Abbreviations in blue script:
SBJ - subject
EXPL - 'expletive', in the sense 'empty of meaning'
DECL - declarative
OBJ - object ('direct object')
IOBJ - indirect object (used in combination with 'direct object')
COMP - sentential complement (when not being classified as object)
OBL - oblique, i.e., a PP where the governed NP has a role defined relative to the head
SC - secondary predicate
PRTCL - 'particle', an adverb with aspectual or less tangible impact
(9) De snakker om at det er for sent
Example with the pattern [ Subject Vmain Oblique-with-sentential-governee ]:
de snakker om at det er for sent
“they talk about it being too late”
| snakker |
| snakk | er |
| talk | PRES |
| Vitr |
ExplSubject Vmain SecPred.
Subject Vmain Oblique
(10) Huset står tomt
Example with the pattern [ Subject Vmain SecondaryPredicate (SC) ]:
huset står tomt
“the house stands empty”
| huset |
| hus | et |
| houseSBJ | NEUTDEFSG |
| CN |
Abbreviations in blue script:
SBJ - subject
EXPL - 'expletive', in the sense 'empty of meaning'
DECL - declarative
OBJ - object ('direct object')
IOBJ - indirect object (used in combination with 'direct object')
COMP - sentential complement (when not being classified as object)
OBL - oblique, i.e., a PP where the governed NP has a role defined relative to the head
SC - secondary predicate
PRTCL - 'particle', an adverb with aspectual or less tangible impact
(11) Gutten virker syk
Example with the pattern [ Subject Vmain SecondaryPredicate (SC) ]:
gutten virker syk
“the boy seems sick”
| gutten |
| gutt | en |
| boySBJ | DEFSGMASC |
| N |
| virker |
| virk | er |
| seem | PRES |
| Vitr |
Abbreviations in blue script:
SBJ - subject
EXPL - 'expletive', in the sense 'empty of meaning'
DECL - declarative
OBJ - object ('direct object')
IOBJ - indirect object (used in combination with 'direct object')
COMP - sentential complement (when not being classified as object)
OBL - oblique, i.e., a PP where the governed NP has a role defined relative to the head
SC - secondary predicate
PRTCL - 'particle', an adverb with aspectual or less tangible impact
(12) Han synes å komme
Example with the pattern [ Subject Vmain SecondaryPredicate (SC) ]:
han synes å komme
“he seems to come”
Abbreviations in blue script:
SBJ - subject
EXPL - 'expletive', in the sense 'empty of meaning'
DECL - declarative
OBJ - object ('direct object')
IOBJ - indirect object (used in combination with 'direct object')
COMP - sentential complement (when not being classified as object)
OBL - oblique, i.e., a PP where the governed NP has a role defined relative to the head
SC - secondary predicate
PRTCL - 'particle', an adverb with aspectual or less tangible impact
(13) Kjelen koker i stykker
Example with the pattern [ Subject Vmain SecondaryPredicate (SC) ]:
kjelen koker i stykker
“the kettle boils to pieces”
| kjelen |
| kjel | en |
| kettleSBJ | DEFSGMASC |
| N |
Abbreviations in blue script:
SBJ - subject
EXPL - 'expletive', in the sense 'empty of meaning'
DECL - declarative
OBJ - object ('direct object')
IOBJ - indirect object (used in combination with 'direct object')
COMP - sentential complement (when not being classified as object)
OBL - oblique, i.e., a PP where the governed NP has a role defined relative to the head
SC - secondary predicate
PRTCL - 'particle', an adverb with aspectual or less tangible impact
(14) det hender at han kommer
Example with the pattern [ ExpletiveSubject Vmain SententialComplement ('extraposed' ]:
det hender at han kommer
“it happens that he comes”
| hender |
| hend | er |
| happen | PRES |
| Vitr |
| kommer |
| kom | er |
| come | PRES |
| Vitr |
Subject Vmain
Subject Vmain SententialComplement
Abbreviations in blue script:
SBJ - subject
EXPL - 'expletive', in the sense 'empty of meaning'
DECL - declarative
OBJ - object ('direct object')
IOBJ - indirect object (used in combination with 'direct object')
COMP - sentential complement (when not being classified as object)
OBL - oblique, i.e., a PP where the governed NP has a role defined relative to the head
SC - secondary predicate
PRTCL - 'particle', an adverb with aspectual or less tangible impact
For a detailed survey of construction types instantiating these functions and combinations of them, see
Special topics
Infinitival complements, and homophony of coordinating conjunction and infinitival marker
By 'infinitival complements' we mean infinitival expressions serving as subject, object or oblique relative to a verb (called the 'matrix verb'). These expressions are built up exactly in the same way as subordinate finite clauses, except for lacking a subject, and having the first verb in infinitival form. They are usually initiated by the infinitival marker å.
This marker is homophonous to the coordinationg conjunction og. The simplest practical way of deciding whether to use å or og in a given construction is by comparison with English: where you would use and in English, use og, and where you would use to in English, use å.
Predicatives following copulas, and adjective agreement
The Norwegian copula verbs are være and bli. They can not be omitted. The predicative following them can be formally of any type: AP, NP, PP. Adjectives occurring as predicative are in the strong form (cf. theinflection patterns described in The Noun Phrase - Norwegian), and agree in number and gender with the subject.
Obligatorily transitive verbs
An example in English of this category is devour: as opposed to eat, it requires that its logical object always be expressed. The Norwegian counterpart to devour is fortære. Notice that no matter how salient from context the object may be, it has to be expressed (as opposed to many languages which can drop an object when contextually given).
Reflexive verbs
(See also Reflexives - Norwegian)
Reflexive verbs are verbs which are necessarily followed by a reflexive pronoun, a form of seg (see The Noun Phrase - Norwegian under Reflexives). Examples are skamme seg and liste seg, and the former takes the paradigm:
jeg skammer meg
du skammer deg
han skammer seg
hun skammer seg
den skammer seg
det skammer seg
vi skammer oss
dere skammer dere
de skammer seg
Related pages
Sentence syntax - Norwegian
Subject-Verb Inversion in Norwegian
Sentence adverbials in Norwegian
Infinitives in Norwegian
Past and Perfective patterns in Norwegian
Personal pronouns in Norwegian
Reflexives - Norwegian
The Noun Phrase - Norwegian
Agreement in Norwegian noun phrases
Definite determiners in Norwegian
Possessive constructions in Norwegian
Gender in Norwegian nouns
Coordination marking in Norwegian
--Lars Hellan 20:03, 12 September 2011 (UTC)