A2 Norwegian GrammarAdjective Endings
Master Norwegian adjective agreement with nouns based on gender, number, and definiteness. Learn when to use the base form, add '-t' for neuter, or '-e' for plural and definite forms. Understanding these patterns is essential for grammatically correct Norwegian.
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1Basic Adjective Agreement
Norwegian adjectives change form to match the noun they describe. The base form is used with masculine/feminine nouns, '-t' is added for neuter nouns, and '-e' is added for all plural nouns. This agreement is mandatory in Norwegian.
Adjective Forms Overview
| Gender/Number | Article | Adjective | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Masculine | en | stor | en stor bil |
| Feminine | ei | stor | ei stor bok |
| Neuter | et | stort | et stort hus |
| Plural | - | store | store biler |
Examples
Det er en fin dag.
It is a nice day.
fin = base form (masculine)
Jeg har et fint hus.
I have a nice house.
fint = +t (neuter)
Vi har fine venner.
We have nice friends.
fine = +e (plural)
Hun kjøpte en ny jakke.
She bought a new jacket.
ny = base form
2Definite Form Adjectives
When describing a specific noun (definite), adjectives take the '-e' ending for ALL genders and numbers. The noun also takes its definite form, and 'den/det/de' is often added before the adjective. This double definiteness is a key Norwegian feature.
Definite Adjective Pattern
| Gender | Pattern | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Masculine | den + adj-e + noun-en | den store bilen |
| Feminine | den + adj-e + noun-a | den store boka |
| Neuter | det + adj-e + noun-et | det store huset |
| Plural | de + adj-e + noun-ene | de store bilene |
Examples
Den gamle mannen bor her.
The old man lives here.
gamle (definite) + mannen
Jeg liker det lille huset.
I like the little house.
lille (definite) + huset
De nye studentene er flinke.
The new students are clever.
nye (definite plural)
Den vakre damen smilte.
The beautiful lady smiled.
vakre = definite form
3Irregular Adjectives
Some common adjectives have irregular forms. 'Liten' (small) becomes 'lita/lite/små'. Adjectives ending in '-ig' don't add '-t' for neuter. Adjectives ending in '-sk' also often skip the '-t'. These irregularities must be memorized.
Irregular Adjective Forms
| Base | Neuter | Plural/Def | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| liten | lite | små/lille | small |
| gammel | gammelt | gamle | old |
| vakker | vakkert | vakre | beautiful |
| norsk | norsk | norske | Norwegian |
| billig | billig | billige | cheap |
Examples
Jeg har en liten katt.
I have a small cat.
liten (masculine)
Det er et lite barn.
It is a small child.
lite (neuter)
De har små barn.
They have small children.
små (plural)
Det er billig.
It is cheap.
No -t (ends in -ig)
4Adjectives as Predicates
When adjectives come after 'er' (is/are) as predicates, they still agree with the subject in gender and number. This means you use the base form for masculine/feminine, '-t' for neuter, and '-e' for plural subjects.
Predicate Adjective Agreement
| Subject Type | Pattern | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Masculine | Subj + er + adj | Bilen er stor. |
| Feminine | Subj + er + adj | Boka er stor. |
| Neuter | Subj + er + adj-t | Huset er stort. |
| Plural | Subj + er + adj-e | Bilene er store. |
Examples
Katten er svart.
The cat is black.
svart (masculine noun)
Eplet er rødt.
The apple is red.
rødt (neuter noun)
Blomstene er vakre.
The flowers are beautiful.
vakre (plural noun)
Været er dårlig i dag.
The weather is bad today.
dårlig (no -t with -ig)
Practice Exercises
4 exercises
Complete for neuter: 'Det er et ___ hus.' (It is a big house.)
Complete for plural: 'Vi har ___ venner.' (We have nice friends.)
Complete for definite: 'Den ___ mannen bor her.' (The old man lives here.)
Complete: 'Jeg kjøpte en ___ jakke.' (I bought a new jacket.)
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