Sentence syntax - Norwegian
Revision as of 20:45, 12 August 2011 by Lars Hellan (Talk | contribs)
The shape of a Norwegian main clause is essentially as depicted below. Tense sits on the first verb, and adverbials have the option of occurring right after the finite verb. The constituent order is rigid: subject is the NP preceding all verbs, objects are the NPs immediately following the main verb and preceding any PP or AdvP; when there are two objects, the indirect object is the NP occurring closest to the verb. Case is marked only on personal pronouns, with a subject – non-subject distinction. Embedded finite clauses have the same structure, except that adverbials then precede the finite verb.
Subject (Modal)* (ha) (Modal)* (bli) Vmain (Indirect object) (Direct object) (Oblique) (Adverbial)*