Norwegian prepositions
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It is not easy to learn to use the correct preposition in every situation, mostly because their use is not always "logical". This is true for Norwegian, as well as for many (all?) other languages.
Some prepositions
| Norwegian | på | i | til | ved | over | under | foran | gjennom | mellom | hos |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| English | on | in | to | at (near) | over | under | before (in front of) | through | between | at (in someone's home) |
på / i
Often the use in Norwegian follows the use in English. There is one notable exception:
- in Norwegian = på norsk (not *i norsk)
- in English = på engelsk
etc.
In addition, there are two types of use where the difference is distinctive:
Rooms in a house:
- in the kitchen = på kjøkkenet
- In the living room = i dagligstuen
... or in school:
- in the classroom = i klasserommet
- in the computer lab = på datarommet
On the first look the choice seems random, but it seems that rooms with a clearly defined function (kitchen, bedroom, bathroom, computer lab) takes "på", but "general purpose" rooms (cellar, corridor, classroom) takes "i".
Geographical positions Much is like in English:
- You use "på" ("on") for clearly defined topographical objects, such as islands, rivers, mountains, etc.
- "i" ("in") is used for entities created by humans (like districts, nations, cities), and for forests and fields.
However, some districts and other entities where you'd expect to use "i", we use "på". No general rule can be specified, you'll just have to learn them.
- Counties/districts (fylker etc.): På Møre, på Agder.
- Other (andre): På Finnskogen
