Double definiteness: den store bilen
When an adjective comes before a noun in the definite form, Norwegian marks «the» twice: with den, det or de in front and with the ending on the noun. Here you learn the pattern and the main exceptions.
We teach Bokmål, the written standard most people in Norway use.
In short: with an adjective you need both den/det/de in front and the ending on the noun: den store bilen (the big car), det nye huset, de gamle bilene.
What is this about?
When you describe a thing everyone already knows about, you often add an adjective: the big car, the new house, the old flats. In English you just put the in front and you're done. Norwegian marks the twice.
With an adjective, Norwegian needs both a little word in front (den, det or de) and the ending on the noun: «den store bilen» (the big car), «det nye huset» (the new house), «de gamle bilene» (the old cars). Without an adjective you only use the ending: «bilen». The adjective itself gets -e: stor becomes store, ny becomes nye. A few words manage without the front word: «hele dagen» (the whole day), «neste uke» (next week).
English has one the, so learners write «den store bil» or just «store bilen». In writing you need both parts. Careful with «den bilen» without an adjective: that means that car, as when you point at one. After a possessive there's no den: «min nye bil» (my new car) or «den nye bilen min». You'll need this in the shop («Jeg vil ha den røde jakka», I'd like the red jacket), when you talk about work («den nye sjefen», the new boss) and when you describe a flat («det lille soverommet», the small bedroom).
Rules
- No adjective: only the ending: bilen (the car), huset, bilene. Den bilen means «that car». You are pointing: den bilen der borte.
- Masculine: en stor bil → den store bilen. The adjective takes -e: den lange vinteren (the long winter).
- Feminine: ei gammel hytte → den gamle hytta (or hytten). Here too you use den.
- Neuter: et nytt hus → det nye huset. Note det, not den: det kalde vannet (the cold water).
- Plural: gamle biler → de gamle bilene, små barn → de små barna.
- The adjective: ends in -e: stor → store, ny → nye. Liten becomes lille (det lille huset), and blå stays the same: den blå jakka.
- After possessives: no den and no ending: min nye bil (my new car), vårt gamle hus. Or put the owner last: den nye bilen min.
- After a genitive: the same: Karis gamle sykkel (Kari's old bike), Norges største by.
- After denne/dette/disse: the noun keeps its ending: denne bilen (this car), dette store huset, disse nye skoene.
- Hele, neste, forrige: no den: hele dagen (the whole day), neste uke (next week), forrige gang (last time).
- Fixed names: often no ending: Det hvite hus (the White House), Den norske kirke, Røde Kors (the Red Cross). Learn them as they are.
Typical mistake: English has one little word, «the», so learners write «den store bil» or just «store bilen». In writing you need both: den store bilen.
Examples
- Den store bilen der borte er naboens.The big car over there is the neighbour's.
- Vi har kjøpt det gamle huset ved fjorden.We've bought the old house by the fjord.
- De nye kollegene mine begynner på mandag.My new colleagues start on Monday.
- Min nye sykkel står i kjelleren.My new bike is in the basement.
- Kan du gi meg den røde mappa på pulten?Can you give me the red folder on the desk?
- Disse små eplene er veldig søte.These small apples are really sweet.
- Hele familien var samlet på hytta i påsken.The whole family got together at the cabin at Easter.
- Hun jobber for Røde Kors i Bergen.She works for the Red Cross in Bergen.