Demonstratives
Denne bilen, det huset der: when you point at something, the noun goes in the definite form.
We teach Bokmål, the written standard most people in Norway use.
What is this about?
When we point at something, we use small words like «this» and «that one». They tell you whether the thing is close to us or further away, and which of several things we mean: this jacket here, not that one over there.
Norwegian uses «denne, dette, disse» for things that are close, and «den, det, de» for things further away, often with «der» (there) after the noun: «Denne bilen er min» (this car is mine), «Det huset der er gammelt» (that house over there is old), «Disse skoene er for små» (these shoes are too small). Notice that the noun is in the definite form: «denne bilen», not «denne bil». The word also changes with gender: «denne» for en- and ei-words, «dette» for et-words.
English just says «this car». Norwegian literally says «this the-car», which is why so many learners forget the ending. English also has one word for singular and one for plural (this/these), while Norwegian splits the singular by gender too. You'll point at things all the time: in a shop («Kan jeg prøve den der?», can I try that one?), at the bakery («Jeg vil ha dette brødet», I'd like this loaf) and when you show someone around: «Dette er kjøkkenet» (this is the kitchen).
Rules
- Near (here): denne (en/ei nouns), dette (et nouns), disse (plural).
- Far away (there): den, det, de + often der after the noun.
- Table: denne bilen / dette huset / disse bilene (this car / this house / these cars) | den bilen (der) / det huset (der) / de bilene (der)
- Double definiteness: the noun is definite after the demonstrative: denne bilen, not 'denne bil'. English says 'this car' – Norwegian literally says 'this the-car'.
- Formal exceptions exist: denne uke, dette år, but denne uka and dette året are most common.
- With an adjective: den store bilen, dette fine huset, disse nye skoene – the adjective takes -e.
- Without a noun: Denne er min (This one is mine). Det der er ikke mitt. Hva er dette?
- Dette/det can point to a whole situation: Dette er Anna (This is Anna). Det var en fin dag.
- In speech many say den her / det her instead of denne / dette: den her bilen.
Examples
- Denne jakka er for liten.This jacket is too small.
- Dette huset er fra 1890.This house is from 1890.
- Disse skoene er nye.These shoes are new.
- Ser du den mannen der?Do you see that man over there?
- Jeg vil ha det store glasset.I want the big glass.
- Hva er dette?What is this?
- De bøkene der er mine.Those books there are mine.