Topic: Norwegian (Bokmål)

"Han må forklare seg."

Translation:He has to explain himself.

November 30, 2015

11 Comments

https://www.duolingo.com/AnIndoorKite

    is forklare always reflexive?

    November 30, 2015
    https://www.duolingo.com/Stigjohan

      No. For example: "Kan du forklare hvorfor himmelen er blå?"

      November 30, 2015
      https://www.duolingo.com/fveldig
      Mod
      • 206

      Edit: This is wrong.

      But you can always turn it into a reflexive verb:
      "Kan du forklare meg hvorfor himmelen er blå?"
      November 30, 2015
      https://www.duolingo.com/Stigjohan

        That's not reflexive, "meg" is an indirect object in your example, and the agent and beneficiary ("du" and "meg") are two different people.

        November 30, 2015
        https://www.duolingo.com/fveldig
        Mod
        • 206

        I stand corrected! I guess I should've thought before replying :)

        November 30, 2015
        https://www.duolingo.com/LaurentMontesi
        • 829

        I translated as "He must make himself clear". I would think the meaning is the same, and you see klar (clear) in forklare.

        May 14, 2016
        https://www.duolingo.com/Andrew_Korsfarer
        • 143

        Sounds like "for clarity".

        June 9, 2017
        https://www.duolingo.com/mprdo

          Montessi and Burks: thanks for your observations. 10Jun17

          June 10, 2017
          https://www.duolingo.com/Hanseatisk

            Hun vil velge en ny mann, hun må forklare seg!

            February 23, 2018
            https://www.duolingo.com/SiobanSnyd

              Does the "forklare seg" have multiple meanings as it does in English?

              That is, does it imply:

              1. "He must be the one to do the explaining"?

              2. "He has done something and must explain his actions"?

              Or

              1. Can it be either depending on context? ?
              June 11, 2018
              https://www.duolingo.com/GregHolmes7
              • 4

              Similarly in English:

              "Luuuucy! You got some 'splainin' to do!"

              January 8, 2019
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