9.20 Subjunctions (Subordinating Conjunctions)
Subjunctions (which include subordinating conjunctions, as well as other words) are words that begin dependent clauses or leddsetninger (clauses which cannot stand alone). A dependent clause has to be paired with an independent clause in order to be a complete sentence. While there are many subjunctions, including all of the interrogatives, here are several commonly used ones.
Subjunctions |
Examples |
| hvis (if) | Jeg skal dra hjem hvis det regner i dag. |
| når (when) | Jeg skal spise når jeg kommer hjem. |
| mens (while) | Jeg hører på musikk mens jeg leser. |
| fordi (because) | Jeg lærer norsk fordi jeg har slektninger i Norge. |
| selv om (even though) | Jeg liker å være student selv om det er mye arbeid. |
| at (that) | Jeg tror at det er mye arbeid. |
There is normal subject-verb word order in both clauses if the independent clause comes first, followed by the subjunction and the dependent clause (leddsetning)
Independent Clause |
Dependent Clause /
|
| Jeg skal dra hjem | hvis det regner i dag. |
| Jeg skal spise | når jeg kommer hjem. |
However, if the subjunction and the dependent clause begin the sentence, then there is inversion of the subject and the verb in the independent clause which follows. NB! There is always a comma after the dependent clause when that is first in the sentence.
Dependent Clause /
|
Independent Clause |
| Hvis det regner i dag, | skal jeg dra hjem. |
| Når jeg kommer hjem, | skal jeg spise. |