Direct yes/no questions use verb-first order. Indirect questions with 'om' keep subject-verb order.
Form direct yes/no questions and indirect questions using 'om'.
Look at these examples. Can you spot the grammar pattern?
Snakker du norsk?
Do you speak Norwegian?
Jeg lurer på om du snakker norsk.
I wonder if you speak Norwegian.
Vet du om butikken er åpen?
Do you know if the shop is open?
Pay attention to the highlighted parts. What do they have in common?
Direct yes/no questions: Verb comes first.
| Type | Example |
|---|---|
| Direct (verb-first) | Snakker du norsk? — Do you speak Norwegian? |
| Direct (verb-first) | Liker hun kaffe? — Does she like coffee? |
Indirect questions with 'om': After 'om', use subject-verb order.
| Type | Example |
|---|---|
| lurer på om | Jeg lurer på om du snakker norsk. |
| vet ikke om | Jeg vet ikke om hun liker kaffe. |
Apply this grammar in A1 course exercises
Practice ExercisesDon't invert subject-verb after 'om' — 'om du snakker' (not 'om snakker du').
Inverting subject-verb order after 'om' in indirect questions.
Confusing 'om' (if/whether) with question words like 'hva' (what).
Snakker du norsk?
Do you speak Norwegian?
Direct yes/no question: verb first, then subject.
Jeg lurer på om du snakker norsk.
I wonder if you speak Norwegian.
Indirect question with 'om': subject-verb order is kept after 'om'.
Vet du om butikken er åpen?
Do you know if the shop is open?
Direct question as main clause; 'om' introduces the embedded question with S+V.
Practice in course
Apply this grammar in A1 course exercises