Subordinate clauses with 'at'

A1 — Setningsstruktur

Using 'at' (that) to connect a main clause to a subordinate clause. Often omitted in spoken Norwegian.

I can form sentences with 'at' clauses and understand when 'at' is omitted.

Examples

Jeg tror at det er viktig. — I think that it is important.
Han sier at han er trøtt. — He says that he is tired.
Jeg håper du kommer. — I hope you come.

Sentence structureA1

Subordinate clauses with 'at'

Using 'at' (that) to connect a main clause to a subordinate clause. Often omitted in spoken Norwegian.

Learning Goal

I can form sentences with 'at' clauses and understand when 'at' is omitted.

Exam Skills:ListeningReadingWritingSpeaking

Look at these examples. Can you spot the grammar pattern?

Jeg tror at det er viktig.

I think that it is important.

Han sier at han er trøtt.

He says that he is tired.

Jeg håper du kommer.

I hope you come.

Pay attention to the highlighted parts. What do they have in common?

Subordinate clauses with "at"

At is the Norwegian "that" which introduces what someone thinks, says, knows or hopes. It joins a main clause to a subordinate clause, as in English:

Main clause	at	Subordinate clause	English
Jeg tror	at	det blir sol i morgen.	I think (that) it will be sunny tomorrow.
Han sier	at	han er trøtt.	He says (that) he is tired.
Vi vet	at	hun kommer.	We know (that) she is coming.
Jeg håper	at	du liker brunost.	I hope (that) you like brown cheese.

Leaving "at" out

Just as English often drops "that", spoken Norwegian often drops at after common verbs like tro, si, vite and håpe: Jeg tror det er sant - I think it's true. Both versions are correct. Keep at when the clause comes first or when the sentence is long and formal.

Word order inside the clause

After at the subject comes first and then the verb, as in English: at han er trøtt. There is no V2 inversion here, even if you start with a time word: Han sier at han i dag er trøtt sounds stiff, but Han sier at han er trøtt i dag is natural.

The one thing that moves is a sentence adverb such as ikke (not), alltid (always) or ofte (often). In a main clause it follows the verb, but in an at clause it comes before it:

Main clause	Inside an at-clause
Han snakker ikke* norsk.*	Jeg vet at han ikke* snakker norsk.*
Hun kommer alltid* for sent.*	Alle vet at hun alltid* kommer for sent.*

English speakers, used to "he doesn't speak", tend to keep the main-clause order (*at han snakker ikke norsk). Norwegians will understand you, but this is the error a teacher circles first.

Apply this grammar in A1 course exercises

Practice Exercises

🇬🇧 Over-inserting 'at' in writing when it is optional. 🇷🇺 Confusion between 'at' (that) and 'å' (to). 🇨🇿 Wrong word order inside the subordinate clause.

Common Error Patterns

Confusing 'at' (that/conjunction) with 'å' (infinitive particle)

Wrong word order inside the subordinate clause after 'at'

Jeg tror at det er viktig.

I think that it is important.

'at' introduces the subordinate clause; normal S-V order inside.

Han sier at han er trøtt.

He says that he is tired.

Reporting what someone says using 'at'.

Jeg håper du kommer.

I hope you come.

'at' is omitted here — common in spoken Norwegian.

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Frequently asked questions

When do you use Subordinate clauses with 'at'?: At is the Norwegian "that" which introduces what someone thinks, says, knows or hopes. It joins a main clause to a subordinate clause, as in English:
How do you form Subordinate clauses with 'at'?: Just as English often drops "that", spoken Norwegian often drops at after common verbs like tro , si , vite and håpe : Jeg tror det er sant - I think it's true. Both versions are correct. Keep at when the clause comes first or when the sentence is long and formal. After at the subject comes first and then the verb, as in English: at han er trøtt . There is no V2 inversion here, even if you start with a time word: Han sier at han i dag er trøtt sounds stiff, but Han sier at han er trøtt i dag is natural. The one thing that moves is a sentence adverb such as ikke (not), alltid (always) or ofte (often).
What are common mistakes with Subordinate clauses with 'at'?: 🇬🇧 Over-inserting 'at' in writing when it is optional. 🇷🇺 Confusion between 'at' (that) and 'å' (to). 🇨🇿 Wrong word order inside the subordinate clause.

Subordinate clauses with "at"

At is the Norwegian "that" which introduces what someone thinks, says, knows or hopes. It joins a main clause to a subordinate clause, as in English:

Main clause

Subordinate clause

English

Jeg tror

det blir sol i morgen.

I think (that) it will be sunny tomorrow.

Han sier

han er trøtt.

He says (that) he is tired.

Vi vet

hun kommer.

We know (that) she is coming.

Jeg håper

du liker brunost.

I hope (that) you like brown cheese.

Leaving "at" out

Word order inside the clause

The one thing that moves is a sentence adverb such as ikke (not), alltid (always) or ofte (often). In a main clause it follows the verb, but in an at clause it comes before it:

Main clause

Inside an at-clause

Han snakker ikke norsk.

Jeg vet at han ikke snakker norsk.

Hun kommer alltid for sent.

Alle vet at hun alltid kommer for sent.

English speakers, used to "he doesn't speak", tend to keep the main-clause order (*at han snakker ikke norsk). Norwegians will understand you, but this is the error a teacher circles first.

Frequently asked questions

When do you use Subordinate clauses with 'at'?

At is the Norwegian "that" which introduces what someone thinks, says, knows or hopes. It joins a main clause to a subordinate clause, as in English:

How do you form Subordinate clauses with 'at'?

Just as English often drops "that", spoken Norwegian often drops at after common verbs like tro , si , vite and håpe : Jeg tror det er sant - I think it's true. Both versions are correct. Keep at when the clause comes first or when the sentence is long and formal. After at the subject comes first and then the verb, as in English: at han er trøtt . There is no V2 inversion here, even if you start with a time word: Han sier at han i dag er trøtt sounds stiff, but Han sier at han er trøtt i dag is natural. The one thing that moves is a sentence adverb such as ikke (not), alltid (always) or ofte (often).

What are common mistakes with Subordinate clauses with 'at'?

🇬🇧 Over-inserting 'at' in writing when it is optional. 🇷🇺 Confusion between 'at' (that) and 'å' (to). 🇨🇿 Wrong word order inside the subordinate clause.