Barnet holder mynten.

Because barnet is the definite singular form: the child.

• barn = child / a child (depending on context)
• et barn = a child
• barnet = the child

The noun barn is neuter, so its definite singular ending is -et.

In Norwegian, the definite article is usually attached to the end of the noun instead of appearing as a separate word before it.

So:

• barnet = the child
• mynten = the coin

This is very different from English, where you say the child and the coin with a separate word.

Because mynten is the definite singular form: the coin.

• en mynt = a coin
• mynten = the coin

So the sentence is talking about a specific coin, not just any coin.

Holder is the present tense of å holde.

So holder can mean:

• holds
• is holding

Norwegian present tense often covers both the English simple present and present progressive, depending on context.

It can mean either one.

In Norwegian, the present tense often does the job of both:

• The child holds the coin
• The child is holding the coin

English makes a stronger distinction here than Norwegian does. Usually the context tells you which translation sounds more natural.

The dictionary form is å holde, which means to hold.

A few useful forms are:

• å holde = to hold
• holder = holds / is holding
• holdt = held or has held in different contexts

So holder is the present-tense form used with all subjects.

No. In Norwegian, verbs do not change according to the subject in the present tense.

So you get:

• jeg holder = I hold / am holding
• du holder = you hold / are holding
• barnet holder = the child holds / is holding

This is simpler than English, where you have I hold but he holds.

The word order is the basic Norwegian pattern:

subject + verb + object

So:

• Barnet = subject
• holder = verb
• mynten = object

That matches normal English word order:

The child holds the coin.

Yes. It would mean The child is holding a coin or The child holds a coin.

Compare:

• Barnet holder mynten = The child is holding the coin
• Barnet holder en mynt = The child is holding a coin

So the difference is definite versus indefinite:

• mynten = the coin
• en mynt = a coin

Here it is singular because the form is barnet, which means the child.

A useful thing to know is that barn is one of those Norwegian nouns whose indefinite singular and indefinite plural look the same:

• et barn = a child
• barn = children or just the basic plural form, depending on context

But barnet is definitely singular: the child.

Not always. Å holde is a very common verb with several meanings. In this sentence, it most naturally means physical holding: the child is holding the coin.

But in other contexts, holde can also mean things like:

• keep
• hold
• maintain
• last

So the exact meaning depends on context. In Barnet holder mynten, the physical meaning is the natural one.

Yes, that is a very good way to learn it.

• et barn → barnet
• en mynt → mynten

This helps you see both the noun’s gender and how the definite form is built.

So the sentence contains:

• a neuter noun: barn → barnet
• a noun with en in the singular: mynt → mynten