Øyeblikket var avgjørende.

The moment was decisive.

Breakdown of Øyeblikket var avgjørende.

• være: to be
• øyeblikket: the moment
• avgjørende: decisive; crucial

Questions & Answers about Øyeblikket var avgjørende.

Why is it øyeblikket and not et øyeblikk?

Øyeblikket is the definite form of øyeblikk.

• et øyeblikk = a moment
• øyeblikket = the moment

In this sentence, Norwegian is talking about a specific moment, so it uses the definite form directly on the noun.

This is very common in Norwegian. Instead of a separate word like the, Norwegian usually adds the definiteness to the end of the noun:

• en bil = a car

• bilen = the car

• et hus = a house
• huset = the house

So:

• et øyeblikk = a moment
• øyeblikket = the moment

Why is there no separate word for the?

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

Here, -et is the definite ending for a neuter singular noun:

• øyeblikk is a neuter noun
• so øyeblikket means the moment

English uses a separate article:

• the moment

Norwegian usually uses a suffix:

• øyeblikket

This is one of the biggest differences between English and Norwegian grammar.

Why is it var?