Breakdown of Næringsvirksomheten har flere kunder.
ha
to have
flere
several
kunden
the customer
næringsvirksomheten
the business activity
Questions & Answers about Næringsvirksomheten har flere kunder.
Why is næringsvirksomheten written as one long word?
Because Norwegian usually writes compound nouns as one word.
Here, the word is built like this:
- næring = trade, industry, business
- virksomhet = activity, operation, business
- næringsvirksomhet = business activity / commercial operation
- næringsvirksomheten = the business activity / the commercial operation
The -s- in the middle is a common linking sound/letter in Norwegian compounds. It does not usually have a meaning by itself; it just helps connect the parts.
What does the -en at the end of næringsvirksomheten mean?
The -en is the definite article attached to the noun. In Norwegian, the is often added to the end of the noun instead of appearing as a separate word in front.
Compare:
- en næringsvirksomhet = a business / a commercial operation
- næringsvirksomheten = the business / the commercial operation
So English the is built into the Norwegian noun here.
Why is there no separate word for the?
Because Norwegian often marks definiteness with an ending on the noun.
So instead of saying something like the business, Norwegian commonly says:
- virksomheten = the business
- kunden = the customer
- kundene = the customers
This is completely normal Norwegian grammar.