Duolingo always gives another correct solution when forming the possessive. It puts the pronoun after the noun and vice versa. Which form is more common in everyday Norwegian?

13 comments
  1. Both are correct, and I don’t think anyone would really care which one you use. But for me “sønnen min” feels slightly more natural.

    Also, Norwegian duolingo just pumps out the most depressing shit doesn’t it?

  2. “Min sønn” is kinda formal and danish-like. “Sønnen min” is more commonly used, but honestly both work fine.

    Edit: this applies to all nouns, not just sønn

  3. One is more formal (min sønn). In a normal conversation you would use “sønnen min”. Both CAN be used though, but most people would use the non-formal one.

  4. Both are technically correct, but duolingo’s solution is more used. Putting the pronoun in front of the noun is, somewhat depending on dialect, very limited to particular circumstances. Try to search for it in this sub, there’s been given some excellent answers on how to place the possesive before.

    In my experience putting the possesive in front of the noun too much is a very common “mistake” norwegian learners make, and one that rather quickly reveals that they’re not native speakers. So putting it in front of the noun is not wrong grammatically, but if you want to try pass for a native speaker you should put it behind the noun. It’s as good as never incorrect to put the possesive behind the noun, but rather jarring if you put it in front too much and/or at an unatural time.

  5. «Sønnen min» is the correct way to start that sentence. «Min sønn ringer meg aldri» sounds like you were 95 year old woman 25 years ago, or an immigrant who haven’t learned norwegian properly yet.

  6. In addition to other points made here, putting the preposition first emphasises the preposition aspect. “MY son never call me” (unlike your son), whereas phrasing it the other way emphasises the noun. “My SON never calls me” (unlike my daughter). This effect will be enhanced or downplayed depending on the inflexion when speaking.

  7. Maybe you already know this but if not, I hope this helps: if you make a classroom on duolingo (takes 1 min, costs nothing) you can have unlimited hearts!

  8. learning languages doesn’t work like this, you will never learn logic by mechanically translating words. language is a logic contruct just look at mathematics, not a mechanical word flipping from one language to another.

  9. To me it’s more which one your emphasizing.

    “Min sønn” the emphasis is on “MY son” as in putting a lot of attention to it being your son as opposed to someone else’s.

    “Sønnen min” the emphasis is on “my SON” as in him specifically and not someone else like your daughter or a friend.

    But both are correct and can be used regardless

  10. If you say “min sønn” in this context id immediately assume youre either old or took some duolingo lessons

Leave a Reply