Classroom:NTNU, LING1113 (2009) - Motion and Space

Prepositions

Something is rotten in the state of Norwegian Prepositions. Check-check-check it out!

Examples:

'På fest', 'på byen', 'på bussen', 'på reisefot', 'på gang', 'på flaska', 'på tur', 'på shopping' etc

There are also many situations that can be described by several prepositions, but have small differences in semantic nuances.

Examples:

'I byen' vs. 'På byen'

'I fjellet' vs. 'På fjellet'

'På bussen' vs. 'I bussen'

while some have completely different meanings

Examples:

'På flaska' vs. 'I flaska'

If the preposition 'på' is replaced with 'i', the semantic meaning changes, or stops making sense: '#I fest', 'i byen', 'i bussen', '#i reisefot', '(?)i g', 'i flaska', 'i tur (og orden)'

Bevegelsesverb

English - Motion verbs

This category of verbs denote movement, and these movements can be divided into subcategories.

In order to denote movement, we can use either a movement verb or a verb with a preposition. The latter is another story, and you can read about it in the page called 'Preposisjoner'. The scope of the 'Bevegelsesverb' page is to describe verbs denoting -by themselves - some kind of movement.

The following paragraphs suggest how we can divide motion verbs into subcategories:

- The movement can be done voluntarily or nonvoluntarily by the subject of the Pn-S.

- Does the movement denoted have a goal, a path or both? Or is the movement taking place a a spot?

- Come up with more as you desire...