Svaret var overraskende.

to be

Breakdown of Svaret var overraskende.

• svaret: the answer
• overraskende: surprising

Questions & Answers about Svaret var overraskende.

Why does svaret end in -et?

Because svaret is the definite singular form of svar, which means answer.

• et svar = an answer
• svaret = the answer

In Norwegian, the definite article is often attached to the end of the noun instead of being a separate word like the in English.

Since svar is a neuter noun (it takes et), its definite form becomes -et.

Why is there no separate word for the?

Norwegian usually puts the definite article onto the noun itself.

So instead of saying a separate word like English the answer, Norwegian says:

• svaret = the answer

This is completely normal in Norwegian. The ending carries the meaning of the.

What form is var?