Lampeskjermen er grønn.

to be

Breakdown of Lampeskjermen er grønn.

• grønn: green
• lampeskjermen: the lampshade

Questions & Answers about Lampeskjermen er grønn.

Why is it lampeskjermen and not just lampeskjerm?

Because lampeskjermen is the definite form, meaning the lampshade.

• en lampeskjerm = a lampshade
• lampeskjermen = the lampshade

In Norwegian, the definite article is usually added to the end of the noun as a suffix rather than written as a separate word like the in English.

How is lampeskjermen built up?

It is a compound noun:

• lampe = lamp
• skjerm = screen / shade

So lampeskjerm means lampshade.

Then the definite ending -en is added:

• lampeskjerm = lampshade
• lampeskjermen = the lampshade

Compound nouns are very common in Norwegian.

Why does the sentence not use a separate word for the?

Norwegian usually expresses the by attaching an ending to the noun.

Here:

• lampeskjerm = lampshade
• lampeskjermen = the lampshade

So instead of saying something like the lampshade, Norwegian often puts the definiteness directly onto the noun.

What does er mean?