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Questions & Answers about Innbruddet skjedde i går.
Why does innbrudd become innbruddet here?
Because Norwegian usually puts the definite article on the end of the noun.
- et innbrudd = a burglary / a break-in
- innbruddet = the burglary / the break-in
The ending -et is the definite singular ending for many neuter nouns. So this sentence is talking about the burglary, not just a burglary.
Could I say et innbrudd instead of innbruddet?
Yes, but the meaning and context change a little.
- Innbruddet skjedde i går suggests a specific burglary that is already known from the context.
- Et innbrudd skjedde i går is grammatically possible, but it sounds less natural in many situations.
- More natural ways to introduce new information would often be:
- Det skjedde et innbrudd i går
- Det var et innbrudd i går
So innbruddet works best when the burglary is already identified in some way.
What form is skjedde, and what is the infinitive?
Skjedde is the past tense of skje, which means to happen or to take place.
Useful forms:
- å skje = to happen
- skjer = happens / is happening
- skjedde = happened
- har skjedd = has happened
So in this sentence, skjedde tells you the event happened in the past.