Advanced Prepositional Usage in Norwegian

In Brief

Advanced Norwegian often expresses relationships with fixed multi-word prepositions: til tross for marks contrast, i forbindelse med links something to an event or matter, med tanke på presents a consideration, and i forhold til sets up a relation or reference point. Treat each phrase as a unit, learn what may follow it, and choose a more precise alternative when i forhold til would leave the relationship unclear.

Overview

A preposition is a linking word such as i, på, or med. It normally introduces a noun phrase—a noun or pronoun together with any words that describe it—as in med den nye planen (“with the new plan”). At C1, much of the difficulty lies not in individual prepositions but in fixed combinations such as på grunn av, med hensyn til, and på vegne av. Their meaning comes from the complete expression, not from translating each word separately.

These phrases organize the logic of reports, news articles, public information, academic discussion, and workplace communication. They can mark cause, contrast, comparison, topic, purpose, addition, or exception. They also appear in everyday Norwegian, although some sound more bureaucratic or formal than others.

English provides useful rough equivalents, but it is not a reliable word-for-word guide. English “regarding,” for example, may correspond to når det gjelder, med hensyn til, om, or i forbindelse med, depending on what the writer means. Accurate Norwegian therefore depends on identifying the relationship first and choosing the phrase second.

How It Works

Learn the whole frame

A complex prepositional expression usually has a fixed final preposition. Keep that final word even when the literal English equivalent does not show it.

Function	Norwegian frame	Typical English equivalent
relation or reference	i forhold til + noun phrase	in relation to; relative to
explicit comparison	sammenlignet med + noun phrase	compared with
concession	til tross for + noun phrase	despite; in spite of
contextual or practical link	i forbindelse med + noun phrase	in connection with; related to
consideration	med tanke på + noun phrase	considering; with … in mind
deliberate objective	med sikte på + noun phrase	with a view to; aiming at
topic or aspect	med hensyn til + noun phrase	with regard to
cause	på grunn av + noun phrase	because of
result	som følge av + noun phrase	as a result of
addition	i tillegg til + noun phrase	in addition to
exception	bortsett fra + noun phrase	except for; apart from
representation	på vegne av + noun phrase	on behalf of
condition not affecting outcome	uavhengig av + noun phrase	regardless of; independently of

The words inside these frames are generally stable: til tross for, not til tross av; på grunn av, not på grunn for. Norwegian also has the established alternative på tross av, which has a different frame but the same basic concessive meaning.

What follows the phrase

The complement—the words governed by the preposition—is most often a noun phrase:

• til tross for det dårlige været — despite the bad weather
• i forbindelse med den kommende konferansen — in connection with the upcoming conference
• med tanke på barnas sikkerhet — with the children’s safety in mind
• uavhengig av resultatet — regardless of the result

After a preposition, a personal pronoun takes its object form: meg, deg, ham, henne, oss, dere, dem. An object form is the pronoun form used after a verb or preposition rather than as the sentence subject.

• i forhold til meg — in relation to me
• på vegne av dem — on their behalf
• i tillegg til henne — in addition to her

A finite clause—a group with its own subject and a verb marked for tense—normally cannot be placed directly after these frames. Use a noun phrase or switch to a conjunction:

• Til tross for regnet gikk vi ut. — Despite the rain, we went out.
• Selv om det regnet, gikk vi ut. — Although it was raining, we went out.
• På grunn av forsinkelsen mistet vi toget. — Because of the delay, we missed the train.
• Fordi bussen var forsinket, mistet vi toget. — Because the bus was late, we missed the train.

Norwegian formal writing often turns an action into a noun so that it can follow a preposition: fordi prisene økte (“because prices rose”) can become på grunn av prisøkningen (“because of the price increase”). This process is called nominalization, meaning that an action or quality is expressed as a noun. It is useful, but too many nominalizations can make prose heavy.

Fronting and V2 word order

The complete prepositional phrase may come first for emphasis or cohesion. It then occupies the first position in a Norwegian main clause, so the finite verb comes next and the subject follows. This is the V2 rule: in a statement, the tense-bearing verb is the second sentence element, even when the first element contains several words.

• Vi gikk ut til tross for regnet.
• Til tross for regnet gikk vi ut.

Do not count every word separately. Til tross for regnet is one opening element. The same pattern applies to I forbindelse med møtet sender vi ut nye dokumenter and Med tanke på kostnadene bør planen endres.

Distinguishing the four central expressions

I forhold til: relation, reference, and sometimes comparison

I forhold til is useful when one thing is assessed relative to another: Lønna er lav i forhold til arbeidsmengden (“The salary is low relative to the workload”). It is also widely used to introduce a topic, but that broad use can be vague. If you mean a direct comparison, sammenlignet med is clearer. If you mean “regarding,” use når det gjelder or the more formal med hensyn til.

Til tross for: an obstacle that does not change the outcome

Til tross for presents a fact that could have prevented or contradicted the result, but did not: Til tross for regnet gikk vi ut. The close alternative på tross av is also standard. With a full clause, use selv om.

I forbindelse med: a concrete connection or occasion

This phrase often links an action to an event, case, process, or practical circumstance: Kontoret er stengt i forbindelse med flyttingen (“The office is closed in connection with the move”). It does not automatically mean that the second item caused the first; it may simply provide the occasion or context.

Med tanke på: a consideration or intended perspective

Med tanke på can mean “considering” or “with … in mind”: Med tanke på været bør vi dra tidlig. When deliberate purpose is central, med sikte på is often more exact: Tiltaket ble innført med sikte på å redusere utslippene (“The measure was introduced with a view to reducing emissions”).

Examples in Context

Norwegian	English	Note
I forhold til i fjor har salget økt betydelig.	Compared with last year, sales have increased considerably.	A comparative reading; sammenlignet med would be even more explicit.
Løsningen er dyr i forhold til nytten.	The solution is expensive relative to its benefit.	One value is assessed against another.
Sammenlignet med det første utkastet er teksten mye klarere.	Compared with the first draft, the text is much clearer.	Precise, direct comparison.
Til tross for regnet gikk vi ut.	Despite the rain, we went out.	The opening phrase triggers verb–subject order.
Hun fullførte løpet på tross av skaden.	She completed the race despite the injury.	Standard alternative frame: på tross av.
I forbindelse med møtet sender vi ut en oppdatert agenda.	In connection with the meeting, we are sending out an updated agenda.	Practical link to an event.
Tre personer ble intervjuet i forbindelse med saken.	Three people were interviewed in connection with the case.	Common in news and official language.
Med tanke på framtida må vi investere mer i utdanning.	With the future in mind, we must invest more in education.	A future consideration.
Med tanke på hvor sent det er, bør vi avslutte.	Considering how late it is, we should finish.	Here the complement is an embedded question introduced by hvor.
Prosjektet ble startet med sikte på å forbedre kollektivtilbudet.	The project was launched with a view to improving public transport.	Explicit objective; med sikte på å + infinitive.
Flyet ble innstilt på grunn av tåke.	The flight was cancelled because of fog.	Direct cause.
Flere veier er stengt som følge av flommen.	Several roads are closed as a result of the flood.	Emphasizes the resulting consequence.
I tillegg til norsk snakker hun samisk.	In addition to Norwegian, she speaks Sámi.	Adds another item.
Alle bortsett fra meg hadde fått beskjed.	Everyone except me had been informed.	Object pronoun after the phrase.
Jeg takker dere på vegne av hele teamet.	I thank you on behalf of the entire team.	Representation.
Avgjørelsen gjelder uavhengig av alder.	The decision applies regardless of age.	The condition does not affect the result.

Common Mistakes

Mixing the fixed frames

• Wrong: Til tross av været fortsatte vi.
• Right: Til tross for været fortsatte vi.
• Also right: På tross av været fortsatte vi.
• Why: The two standard frames are til tross for and på tross av. Their final prepositions cannot be exchanged.

Putting a full statement after til tross for

• Wrong: Til tross for det regnet, gikk vi ut.
• Right: Til tross for regnet gikk vi ut.
• Right with a clause: Selv om det regnet, gikk vi ut.
• Why: Til tross for takes a noun phrase. Selv om introduces a clause with its own subject and verb.

Forgetting inversion after an opening phrase

• Wrong: I forbindelse med møtet vi sender ut en agenda.
• Right: I forbindelse med møtet sender vi ut en agenda.
• Why: The opening phrase fills the first position; the finite verb must occupy the second position in the main clause.

Using a subject pronoun after a preposition

• Wrong: Dette er vanskelig i forhold til jeg.
• Right: Dette er vanskelig i forhold til meg.
• Why: A personal pronoun governed by a preposition uses the object form.

Using i forhold til for every kind of connection

• Vague: I forhold til budsjettet må vi snakke mer.
• Clearer: Når det gjelder budsjettet, må vi snakke mer.
• Why: If the intended meaning is simply “as for the budget,” når det gjelder states that relationship directly. Reserve i forhold til for a genuine relation, reference point, or comparison when possible.

Confusing context with cause

• Misleading: Møtet ble avlyst i forbindelse med sykdom.
• Clear if illness caused it: Møtet ble avlyst på grunn av sykdom.
• Why: I forbindelse med signals a connection or occasion; på grunn av states a cause.

Usage Notes

Register and naturalness

Til tross for, på grunn av, i tillegg til, and bortsett fra are natural in both speech and writing. I forbindelse med is common in workplace, administrative, and news language, but can sound unnecessarily official in a casual exchange. Instead of Jeg ringer i forbindelse med festen, a speaker may simply say Jeg ringer om festen (“I’m calling about the party”).

Med hensyn til is formal and often belongs in reports or careful discussion. Når det gjelder is a neutral, widely useful topic marker. Hva … angår (“as far as … is concerned”) is another written or formal option: Hva kostnadene angår, er planen fortsatt usikker.

Bokmål variation

Both framtida and fremtiden are accepted Bokmål forms, reflecting different choices in spelling and noun gender. Thus med tanke på framtida and med tanke på fremtiden can both occur. Keep the style of a document consistent rather than treating one as the only correct form.

Punctuation

A short opening prepositional phrase does not automatically require a comma: Til tross for regnet gikk vi ut. A comma may help after a long or complex opening element, but English comma habits should not be copied mechanically. Clarity and the house style of the text matter.

Beyond the Basics / Advanced Use

Precision makes prose stronger

Advanced writing improves when broad linking phrases are replaced by the exact logical relation. Compare these choices:

If you mean…	Prefer…	Example
direct comparison	sammenlignet med	Sammenlignet med 2025 er kostnadene lavere.
topic	når det gjelder / med hensyn til	Når det gjelder fristen, trenger vi mer tid.
cause	på grunn av	Toget er forsinket på grunn av snø.
consequence	som følge av	Prisene steg som følge av mangelen.
intended goal	med sikte på	De forhandlet med sikte på en avtale.
broader interpretive context	i lys av	Saken må vurderes i lys av nye opplysninger.

This is especially important with i forhold til. The phrase is extremely common in contemporary Norwegian, including uses meaning little more than “about.” Such uses are understandable, but in edited prose they may be criticized as vague. Do not avoid the phrase completely; ask what relation it actually names.

Fixed phrases can govern infinitives indirectly

A preposition cannot simply be followed by a finite verb, but some expressions combine naturally with å plus the infinitive—the basic verb form:

• med sikte på å redusere utslippene — with a view to reducing emissions
• i tillegg til å undervise forsker hun — in addition to teaching, she does research
• i stedet for å svare gikk han — instead of answering, he left

With med tanke på å, context matters. It can express contemplating an action—Vi vurderer å flytte med tanke på å få mer plass—but med sikte på å is often clearer when a planned objective is meant.

Cohesion across sentences

In skilled prose, an opening phrase can connect a sentence to information already mentioned: Som følge av dette …, I tillegg til dette …, På bakgrunn av disse funnene …. This is cohesion, meaning the linguistic links that make a text hang together. Avoid stacking several heavy linkers in every sentence; alternate them with direct verbs and conjunctions so that the text remains readable.

Practice Tips

1. Sort by relationship, not translation. Make cards headed “cause,” “contrast,” “comparison,” “topic,” and “purpose.” Add på grunn av, til tross for, sammenlignet med, når det gjelder, and med sikte på to the appropriate group.
2. Transform clauses into phrases and back. Change selv om det regnet to til tross for regnet, or fordi prisene økte to på grunn av prisøkningen. Check that the meaning remains the same and that the result does not become needlessly formal.
3. Practice fronting aloud. Start with a complete phrase, then immediately place the verb: Med tanke på kostnadene bør vi …; I forbindelse med besøket kommer det …. This builds the V2 pattern together with the vocabulary.

Related Concepts

• Prerequisite: Basic Prepositions — introduces the simple prepositions that form the building blocks of these expressions.