Grunnordstilling

Grunnordstilling, or basic word order, is a term used in Norwegian grammar to describe the standard arrangement of sentence elements in main clauses. It is closely associated with the verb-second (V2) feature of Norwegian, where the finite verb occupies the second position in the sentence. When no element other than the subject is placed in front, the normal order is subject–finite verb–object (SVO).

The defining rule of grunnordstilling is that the finite verb remains in the second position even if another element leads the sentence. If something other than the subject appears first for focus, time, place, or manner (an adverbial or topicalized element), the subject typically moves after the verb, resulting in inversion. For example: "I dag leser jeg boken" translates to the verb "leser" occupying the second position, with "I dag" fronted and "jeg" following the verb.

Grunnordstilling applies to main clauses in standard Norwegian. Subordinate clauses, questions, or certain emphasis constructions may exhibit different orders. In subordinate clauses, the finite verb often appears later in the clause, and the simple SVO pattern of grunnordstilling does not apply in the same way. The concept helps explain why Norwegian often sounds like it has a consistent second-position verb, even when other elements precede it.

The term is commonly used in teaching Bokmål and Nynorsk grammar and in linguistic descriptions of Norwegian syntax. Variations can occur across dialects and in stylistic writing, but grunnordstilling remains the reference point for the default order of a declarative main clause.