Blyanten er lang og sort.

and

Breakdown of Blyanten er lang og sort.

• være: to be
• blyanten: the pencil
• sort: black
• lang: long

Questions & Answers about Blyanten er lang og sort.

Why does blyant have the definite ending -en in this sentence?

In Danish, nouns typically take their definite form by adding an ending rather than using a separate word (like “the” in English). Since blyant is a common-gender noun (en-blandt), the definite ending is -en, making it blyanten (“the pencil”).

Is er simply the Danish equivalent of “is”?

Yes. In Danish, er is the present tense of the verb “to be,” just like “is” or “am” in English. So blyanten er translates directly to “the pencil is.”

Why is the word og used here?

Og means “and” in Danish. It’s used exactly how “and” is used in English—to connect two or more items, descriptions, or clauses. Here, it links the two adjectives lang and sort.

How are lang and sort classified in this sentence?

They’re adjectives describing the noun blyanten. Lang (“long”) and sort (“black”) both modify the pencil by telling us about its length and color.

How do I pronounce blyanten er lang og sort?

• blyanten: /ˈplyɑnˀtn̩/ (the “y” is pronounced like the French “u,” and the final “-en” has a very light schwa; the “t” sound might be slightly softened)
• er: /ɛɐ̯/
• lang: /lɑŋ/ (with a single “ng” sound)
• og: /ʌ/ or /ɔ/ (depends on dialect; often just a quick sound)
• sort: /soɐ̯t/ or /sɔɐ̯t/ (short “o” with a light “r” before the “t”)