Partikkelverb

Partikkelverb, in Norwegian grammar, are verbs formed by combining a base verb with one or more particles (often prepositions or adverbs). The particle alters the meaning of the base verb, creating an idiomatic or more specific sense. Partikkelverb are common in Norwegian and other Scandinavian languages, and many are used in everyday speech. The particle can indicate direction, aspect, result, or emphasis, and the combination behaves as a single verbal unit in many contexts.

There are two main types: separable and inseparable partikkelverb. Separable verbs allow the object to be placed between the verb and the particle in certain tenses or word orders, and the particle may appear after the object in other arrangements. Inseparable verbs keep the particle attached and behave like a fixed unit; their meaning is often not fully predictable from the base verb and particle alone. The distinction affects syntax and stress patterns, and it can vary between languages and dialects.

In use, partikkelverb contribute to lexical richness and regional variety. Many are idiomatic, so their meaning cannot always be deduced from the base verb plus particle. They are productive in forming new meanings, but some combinations are highly conventional and must be learned as fixed expressions.

Examples (illustrative):

- Slå opp (to look up): Jeg slo opp ordet. Jeg har slått opp ordet. This is typically separable.

- Slå av (to switch off): Slå av lyset. Jeg slo av lyset. Also commonly separable.

- Få tak i (to obtain): Jeg fikk tak i boka. Often treated as inseparable, with the particle closely bound to the verb.

Across Scandinavian languages, the concept exists with language-specific rules for separability and placement, but the general idea remains: a verb plus a particle to form a new, often idiomatic meaning.