Det er bare å sjekke bruktvaren, porselenet og lampeskjermen.

Det er bare å + infinitive is a very common Norwegian pattern meaning something like:

• you just have to ...
• all you need to do is ...
• just ...

So Det er bare å sjekke ... means that checking those things is the simple or obvious next step. It often sounds a little encouraging or matter-of-fact.

For example:

• Det er bare å spørre. = Just ask.
• Det er bare å begynne. = Just start.

Here det is a dummy subject or formal subject. It does not refer to a specific thing like it often does in English.

Norwegian often uses det in general statements and fixed expressions:

• Det er vanskelig. = It is difficult.
• Det er fint å være her. = It is nice to be here.
• Det er bare å sjekke ...

So in this sentence, det is there because Norwegian grammar wants a subject in that position, even though the sentence is really about the action å sjekke.

Because after Det er bare å, Norwegian uses the infinitive form of the verb.

• å sjekke = to check

This construction is not using a present-tense verb like sjekker (checks / am checking) and not using the imperative sjekk (check!). Instead, it uses the infinitive because the whole expression works like it is just to check...

So:

• Det er bare å vente.
• Det er bare å ringe.
• Det er bare å sjekke ...

Here bare means just or simply, not only in a strongly restrictive sense.

In this sentence, bare softens the instruction and makes it sound easy or straightforward:

• Det er bare å sjekke ... = Just check ... / All you need to do is check ...

So yes, bare can sometimes translate as only, but in this pattern it is usually better understood as just / simply.

Those endings show the definite form in Norwegian.

Unlike English, Norwegian usually puts the at the end of the noun:

• en lampeskjerm = a lampshade

• lampeskjermen = the lampshade

• et porselen is not usually how you would talk about it in practice, but the noun porselen is neuter

• porselenet = the porcelain

• en bruktvare = a second-hand item
• bruktvaren = the second-hand item

So the sentence is talking about specific things, not just any used item, porcelain, and lampshade.

Because Norwegian nouns have different grammatical genders, and that affects the definite ending.

In this sentence:

• bruktvare is a common-gender noun in this form, so the definite singular is bruktvaren
• lampeskjerm is also common gender, so the definite singular is lampeskjermen
• porselen is neuter, so the definite singular is porselenet

A very simplified pattern is:

• common gender: -en
• neuter: -et

So the endings tell you something about each noun's gender.

Because Norwegian usually writes compound nouns as one word.

So:

• brukt + vare becomes bruktvare
• lampe + skjerm becomes lampeskjerm

This is extremely common in Norwegian. English often writes similar expressions as two words, but Norwegian usually combines them.

Other examples:

• bokhandel = bookshop
• sykehus = hospital
• sommerferie = summer holiday

Bruktvare literally means a used item or second-hand item.

It is made from:

• brukt = used
• vare = item / goods / product

Depending on context, it can refer to a single second-hand object or, more generally, second-hand goods. In this sentence, the definite singular bruktvaren suggests one specific used item.

It can mean either, depending on context.

Porselen can refer to:

• the material porcelain
• porcelain objects such as dishes, cups, and similar items

So porselenet could mean the porcelain as a category of objects being checked, not necessarily just the raw material. Norwegian often uses singular definite nouns this way.

Norwegian often uses the definite form when the speaker has particular things in mind, even in places where English might be a little looser.

So bruktvaren, porselenet og lampeskjermen suggests that these are known or specific items in the situation:

• the used item
• the porcelain
• the lampshade

This can sound very natural in Norwegian if the speaker and listener both know what objects are being talked about.

Yes. The sentence is listing three things:

• bruktvaren
• porselenet
• lampeskjermen

In standard Norwegian, you normally put commas between items in a list, but not before og in a simple list.

So:

• bruktvaren, porselenet og lampeskjermen

That matches normal Norwegian punctuation.

No, sjekke is very common and fairly everyday Norwegian. It is often used for check, inspect, or look over.

Depending on context, other verbs might be possible, for example:

• kontrollere = more formal, inspect / verify
• undersøke = examine
• se på = look at

But sjekke is extremely common in modern spoken and written Norwegian, so it sounds natural here.

Not exactly a direct order, but it functions a bit like an instruction or suggestion.

A direct command would be:

• Sjekk bruktvaren, porselenet og lampeskjermen.

That is more straightforward: Check the used item, the porcelain, and the lampshade.

By contrast:

• Det er bare å sjekke ...

sounds softer and more conversational, like:

• You just need to check ...
• Just check ...
• All you have to do is check ...

So it is less blunt than an imperative.