Verb Complementation - Norwegian

In Norwegian, the following types of Grammatical Functions can be carried by arguments of the verb:

SUBJ - subject

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

PRESENTED - the 'presented' NP in a presentational construction

SECPRED - secondary predicate

IDNT - complement of an identifying Copula

ADVBL - 'adverbial complement', i.e., a PP, Adv or AdvP serving as complement

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 addressed in A Norwegian Grammar Sparrer:

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

Reflexive verbs