Lesson goal
After the lesson, the student will be able to talk about studies, courses, subjects, assignments, exams, and results, as well as formulate goals and plans using constructions with the infinitive after verbs of intention, attempt, and necessity.
Usage context
This topic is used when talking about university, language courses, school subjects, exam preparation, learning goals, and progress. Typical situations: talking about one’s education, discussing schedules and lectures, explaining difficulties in studying, talking with a teacher or classmates, describing plans for a course or an exam.
New vocabulary
utdanning — education — a general word for education and one’s educational path
fag — subject, discipline — used for a school or university subject
forelesning — lecture — more often about a class at university or on a course
oppgave — assignment — can be homework, written work, or a project
eksamen — exam — both written and oral exam
karakter — grade — a school or university mark
læreplan — curriculum, syllabus — about the content of a course or subject
forberede — prepare — often in the form “forberede seg” when preparing for something
forbedre — improve — often about skills, language, results
studere — study — usually about a longer learning process
kurs — course — a language, professional, or academic course
mål — goal — often used in combinations about learning goals
Useful phrases
Jeg prøver å forbedre norsken min. — I am trying to improve my Norwegian. — when talking about your learning goal
Hun planlegger å ta en eksamen snart. — She is planning to take an exam soon. — when describing someone else’s plans
Vi må forberede oss godt til forelesningen. — We need to prepare well for the lecture. — when talking about the need to prepare
Dette faget er nyttig for framtiden. — This subject is useful for the future. — when evaluating a subject or course
Jeg har tatt et kurs i norsk. — I have completed a Norwegian course. — when talking about a course that has already been completed
Jeg vil studere videre. — I want to continue studying. — when talking about intention
Vi håper å få gode karakterer. — We hope to get good grades. — when talking about expectations
Han begynte å lese til eksamen tidlig. — He started studying for the exam early. — when describing the beginning of an action
Grammar
In this lesson, infinitive constructions with “å” after verbs of goal, plan, attempt, and necessity are important. This pattern helps connect two actions: first comes the finite verb form, then “å” and the infinitive.
Basic pattern: verb + å + infinitive: “prøver å forbedre”, “planlegger å ta”, “ønsker å studere”
After modal verbs “må”, “kan”, “vil”, “skal”, the particle “å” is not used: “Vi må forberede oss”, not “må å forberede”
After verbs of beginning, attempt, desire, and plan, “å” is usually needed: “begynte å lese”, “prøver å lære”, “planlegger å ta”
If a reflexive verb is needed, the pronoun stays before the infinitive complement: “forberede oss til eksamen”
After a preposition, the infinitive with “å” is not used directly; in this lesson it is better to build the phrase with a verb: “Jeg planlegger å studere mer”
Examples with explanation
Jeg prøver å forbedre norsken min hver uke. — I try to improve my Norwegian every week. After “prøver”, an infinitive with “å” is needed because it is about an attempt to achieve a goal.
Hun planlegger å ta en eksamen i desember. — She is planning to take an exam in December. After “planlegger”, “å + infinitive” is used because this is a plan.
Vi må forberede oss godt til forelesningen i morgen. — We need to prepare well for the lecture tomorrow. After “må”, “å” is not used; “oss” shows the reflexive meaning.
Jeg ønsker å studere pedagogikk senere. — I want to study pedagogy later. After “ønsker”, “å” is used because this is a wish.
Han begynte å jobbe med oppgaven i går kveld. — He started working on the assignment yesterday evening. After “begynte”, “å + infinitive” usually follows to indicate the beginning of an action.
De håper å få bedre karakterer dette semesteret. — They hope to get better grades this semester. After “håper”, an infinitive with “å” is needed because this is an expectation of a result.
Jeg vil ta et nytt kurs neste år. — I want to take a new course next year. After “vil”, the particle “å” is not needed because it is a modal verb.
Dette faget hjelper meg å forstå læreplanen bedre. — This subject helps me understand the curriculum better. After “hjelper”, in modern usage a construction with “å” is often possible.
Læreren ba oss å levere oppgaven før fredag. — The teacher asked us to submit the assignment before Friday. Here the infinitive shows the action that needs to be carried out after the request; in spoken language, a construction without “å” is also found, but for B1 it is useful to recognize the variant with “å”.
Jeg trenger å bruke mer tid på utdanningen min. — I need to spend more time on my education. After “trenger”, a construction with “å” is possible when an action follows.
Typical mistakes
Jeg prøver forbedre norsken min. → Jeg prøver å forbedre norsken min. — after “prøver”, the particle “å” is needed
Vi må å forberede oss godt. → Vi må forberede oss godt. — after the modal verb “må”, “å” is not used
Hun planlegger ta en eksamen. → Hun planlegger å ta en eksamen. — after “planlegger”, an infinitive with “å” is needed
Jeg vil å studere videre. → Jeg vil studere videre. — after “vil”, “å” cannot be used
Vi forbereder til eksamen. → Vi forbereder oss til eksamen. — here a reflexive verb is needed when talking about preparing oneself
Jeg har en god karakterer. → Jeg har gode karakterer. — the plural requires the form “gode karakterer”
Dette fag er nyttig. → Dette faget er nyttig. — the noun is in the definite form: “dette faget”
Mini-summary
After “prøve”, “planlegge”, “ønske”, “håpe”, “begynne”, “å + infinitive” is usually used
After “må”, “vil”, “kan”, “skal”, the particle “å” is not used
To talk about preparing for a class or an exam, “forberede seg” is often needed
The lesson vocabulary helps talk about courses, subjects, assignments, exams, and learning goals