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Questions & Answers about Hun holder masken.
Why is it holder and not holde?
Holder is the present tense form of the verb å holde.
- å holde = to hold / to keep
- holder = holds / is holding / keeps
So:
- Hun holder masken = She holds / is holding / keeps the mask
Unlike English, Norwegian does not change the present tense depending on the subject:
- jeg holder
- du holder
- hun holder
- vi holder
The infinitive holde is the dictionary form, not the form you use here.
Why is it masken with -en at the end?
The ending -en marks the noun as definite singular.
- en maske = a mask
- masken = the mask
In Norwegian, the is usually attached to the noun instead of written as a separate word. So masken literally means the mask.
Is Hun holder masken literal, or is it an idiom?
It can be both, depending on context.
Literal meaning:
- She is physically holding a mask.
Idiomatic meaning:
- She keeps a straight face.
- She hides her feelings.
- She keeps up appearances.
The expression å holde masken is a common idiomatic phrase, so many learners meet it in that figurative sense.