Kjedet er tørt.

Because kjedet is the definite singular form of et kjede.

In Norwegian, the is often added to the end of the noun instead of being a separate word.

• et kjede = a chain
• kjedet = the chain

So the sentence uses kjedet because it means the chain, not just a chain.

The dictionary form is kjede, and its full basic form is usually learned as et kjede.

That et is important because it tells you the noun is neuter.
Knowing that helps you choose the correct adjective form later.

A common pattern is:

• et kjede = indefinite singular
• kjedet = definite singular
• kjeder = plural
• kjedene = definite plural

Because tørr changes form to match the noun.

The basic adjective is tørr = dry, but with a neuter singular noun like et kjede, the adjective becomes tørt.

So:

• en stol er tørr = the chair is dry
• et kjede er tørt = the chain is dry

This is called adjective agreement.

Yes. Tørr changes depending on gender and number.

Here are the main forms:

• tørr for many singular en-words
• tørt for singular et-words
• tørre for plural, and also often in definite phrases with adjectives

Examples:

• Bilen er tørr.
• Huset er tørt.
• Skoene er tørre.

So in Kjedet er tørt, the -t is there because kjede is a neuter noun.

Norwegian usually expresses the by adding an ending to the noun.

So instead of a separate word like English the chain, Norwegian often says:

• kjedet

That final -et is what gives the noun the meaning the chain.

This is very common in Norwegian:

• bilen = the car
• huset = the house
• barnet = the child
• kjedet = the chain

The indefinite version would be:

Et kjede er tørt.

That means a chain is dry.

You can also compare the noun phrase forms:

• et tørt kjede = a dry chain
• det tørre kjedet = the dry chain

So the sentence you were given is a definite sentence: it refers to the chain, not just any chain.

Yes. If the adjective comes before the noun, it still has to agree with the noun.

For example:

• et tørt kjede = a dry chain

Notice that it is still tørt, because kjede is neuter.

If the phrase is definite, Norwegian usually uses double definiteness:

• det tørre kjedet = the dry chain

So:

• Kjedet er tørt. = adjective after er
• et tørt kjede = adjective before the noun

Er is the present tense of å være = to be.

In this sentence, it works just like English is:

• Kjedet er tørt. = The chain is dry.

A useful thing for English speakers is that Norwegian verbs do not change for person the way English verbs sometimes do.
You use er with all subjects:

• jeg er
• du er
• han er
• vi er
• de er

So er is always the same present-tense form.

This sentence has the basic Norwegian word order:

subject + verb + complement

So:

• Kjedet = subject
• er = verb
• tørt = complement/adjective

That is very similar to English:

• The chain
  • is
    • dry

So for an English speaker, the word order here is quite straightforward.

These are two sounds English speakers often ask about.

1. kj in kjedet
Traditionally, kj is pronounced as a soft sound somewhat like the h in hue for some English speakers, or like the German ich sound. It does not sound like English j.

However, many modern speakers pronounce kj more like the sj sound, so you may hear variation.

2. ø in tørt
Ø has no exact English equivalent. A rough approximation is the vowel in British English bird, but with rounded lips.

So even if you do not get these sounds perfect right away, that is normal. They are very common pronunciation challenges for learners of Norwegian.