Kreves

Kreves is the present passive form of the Norwegian verb kreve, meaning to demand or require. It is used to express that something is required or demanded, without specifying an agent. This impersonal construction is common in official, administrative, and policy language. For example: Det kreves at alle har gyldig legitimasjon, meaning It is required that everyone has valid identification.

In usage, kreves signals a requirement as a fact rather than a statement about who imposes it. The passive form allows the emphasis to fall on the obligation itself rather than on who enforces it. This makes it a frequent choice in notices, regulations, forms, and quality or safety guidelines.

Etymology and cross-language context: Kreves is derived from the verb kreve. Similar constructions exist in other Scandinavian languages, such as Danish kræves and Swedish krävs, reflecting shared Germanic roots and parallel grammatical patterns.

Overview: Kreves functions primarily as a grammatical form rather than a standalone lexical item. It is most often encountered in written Norwegian, where it helps articulate requirements in a concise, impersonal style. In everyday speech, speakers may rephrase into active voice, for example by specifying the agent or using a directive form, depending on formality and context.