Stoffet er grått.

The fabric is gray.

Breakdown of Stoffet er grått.

• være: to be
• stoffet: the fabric; material
• grå: gray

Questions & Answers about Stoffet er grått.

What does the ending -et in stoffet mean?

It marks the noun as definite singular for a neuter noun.

• stoff = the basic dictionary form
• stoffet = the
  • noun

So Norwegian often expresses the by adding an ending to the noun, instead of using a separate word before it.

Is stoff a neuter noun?

Yes. Stoff is neuter.

That matters because neuter nouns typically use:

• et in the indefinite singular: et stoff
• -et in the definite singular: stoffet

It also affects adjective agreement, which is why you get grått here.

Why is it grått and not grå?

Because the adjective has to agree with the noun.

Since stoff is neuter singular, the adjective takes the neuter singular form:

• common gender singular: grå
• neuter singular: grått
• plural: grå

So:

• en bil er grå
• et stoff er grått
• biler er grå

Why does grått have two ts?