gjenstå

Gjenstå is a Norwegian verb meaning to remain or to be left after part of something has been removed, completed, or used. It is used both for concrete quantities and for abstract residuals, such as tasks, time, or elements that still exist after some action has taken place.

Etymology: The verb originates from Old Norse gjensta and is built with the common prefix gjen-, which in various words conveys a sense of returning or remaining. In Norwegian it is cognate with Danish gjenstå and is used in Bokmål and Nynorsk.

Conjugation and usage: In Bokmål, the present tense is gjenstår; the past tense is gjenstod. The verb is often used in impersonal constructions, for example: Det gjenstår å se (There remains to be seen) and Det gjenstod tre oppgaver (Three tasks remain). The adjective form gjenstående means remaining or still to be completed, as in gjenstående arbeid (remaining work). In many contexts, gjenstå describes what is left after a process, a calculation, or a period of time.

Examples: Det gjenstår to dager før fristen. Etter evalueringen gjenstod det lite tid til endringer. I prosjektplanen er de gjenstående oppgavene i grønt, og må fullføres før lansering. See also: gjenstand is a different word meaning object or article.

Notes: Gjenstå is primarily used in Norwegian and is less common in daily speech than synonyms like være igjen or restere in certain contexts, but it remains a standard verb for describing what remains.