Adverbs / Adverb

2.22 Modal Adverbs
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Several adverbs give a special sense or understanding to the sentences in which they occur. They are called ‘modal’ adverbs, giving the mode or mood of the sentence. These modal adverbs are unstressed, and come after the main verb in the sentence. Unfortunately, since these modals depend quite a bit on context and intonation, giving exact English equivalents is not easy.

nok:

  1. all right, probably, to be certain (don’t worry)

Det går nok bra.  (It will probably go well.) 
Han kommer nok i morgen.  (He will come tomorrow all right.)

  1. all right, probably, to be certain (unfortunately)

Jeg kan nok ikke komme til festen. (I probably can’t come to the party.)
Det kan nok være. (That can well be.)

sikkert:

  1.  all right, probably, to be certain (don’t worry)

Det går sikkert bra.  (It will probably go well.)
Han kommer sikkert.  (I think he is coming.)

visst:

  1.  I think, I believe (but it is something we have only heard or read)

Naiv Super. skal visst være en god bok. (Naiv Super is supposed to be a good book.)
Det skal visst være stortingsvalg i Norge i år. (I think there is going to be a Storting election in Norway this year.)

vel:

  1.  in a question

Du tuller vel?         (You are kidding, aren’t you?)
Du kommer vel i kveld?     (You are coming tonight, aren’t you?)

  1.  I suppose

Vi må vel gjøre det.          I suppose we have to do that.)
Jeg bør vel kjøpe en bedre bil.    (I suppose I ought to buy a better car.)

  1.  I hope, I trust

Han har vel gjort leksene. (I trust he has done his homework.)

jo

  1.  of course,  let me remind you, after all

Jeg er jo fra USA. (I am, of course, from the US.)
Jeg snakker jo norsk.       (I speak Norwegian let me remind you.)

  1.  expressed in English by emphasizing the verb

Jeg hører jo.  (I am listening.)
Du vet det jo. (You know that.)

da

  1.  Included in an answer to a question and indicates that the speaker is surprised by the question

Kan du snakke norsk?          (Can you speak Norwegian?
Ja, jeg kan da det.                  (Well yes, I can.)

  1.  In speech, “da” is often tacked on to the end of a question or a short phrase.

a)   Jeg skal reise til Norge. (I am going to go to Norway.)
Når skal du reise, da? (When are you going to go, then?)
b)  God natt, da!                     (Good night, then)
c)   Kom igjen, da!                      (Come on, then!)

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