Startnummeret vises ved målgangen.

Because -et is the definite article for a singular neuter noun in Norwegian.

• et startnummer = a start number / a race bib number
• startnummeret = the start number / the bib number

Unlike English, Norwegian usually adds the definite article to the end of the noun instead of putting a separate word like the in front.

Startnummer is a neuter noun, so it takes:

• et in the indefinite singular: et startnummer
• -et in the definite singular: startnummeret

A native English speaker may notice that nummer and compounds ending in -nummer are often neuter.

Vises is the s-passive form of the verb å vise.

Compare:

• viser = shows / is showing (active)
• vises = is shown / is being shown (passive)

So:

• Systemet viser startnummeret. = The system shows the start number.
• Startnummeret vises ... = The start number is shown ...

This -s passive is very common in Norwegian, especially in neutral, factual, or formal statements.

Yes. Vises is the present tense passive.

So it corresponds to English forms like:

• is shown
• is displayed
• sometimes gets shown, depending on context

It does not mean past tense. A past passive idea would be expressed differently, for example with ble vist or sometimes ble vist fram, depending on the context.

Yes, often it could.

• Startnummeret vises ved målgangen.
• Startnummeret blir vist ved målgangen.

Both can mean roughly the same thing: the start number is shown at the finish.

The difference is mainly stylistic:

• vises sounds a bit more compact, neutral, and common in written or informational language
• blir vist can sound slightly more explicit or conversational

In many contexts, either one is fine.

Here, ved means by, at, or near, depending on the exact context.

So ved målgangen means something like:

• at the finish
• by the finish line
• near the finish area

Ved is often used for location close to something:

• ved døra = by the door
• ved stasjonen = by the station / near the station

Because målgangen is the definite form: the finish / the finishing area / the finish line crossing.

• en målgang = a finish
• målgangen = the finish

In this sentence, Norwegian uses the definite form because it refers to a specific place or event point: the finish.

Målgang refers to the finish, especially in a race context. It can mean:

• the act of finishing
• the finish area
• the finish line context, depending on how it is used

So ved målgangen is a natural racing expression for at the finish.

English often uses finish line, but Norwegian may use målgang in places where English would choose either finish, finish line, or finish area.

Because it is the thing the sentence is about: the start number.

Norwegian word order here is very straightforward:

• Startnummeret = subject
• vises = verb
• ved målgangen = place/location phrase

So the structure is:

Subject + verb + location

This is the normal word order for a main clause in Norwegian.

Yes, in many contexts that is exactly what it means.

Depending on the event, startnummer can refer to:

• the number assigned to a participant
• the bib number worn by a runner, skier, cyclist, etc.
• sometimes the physical bib itself

So if the sentence is from a sports or race context, bib number is often a very natural English interpretation.

Because Norwegian usually puts definiteness at the end of the noun.

So:

• en målgang = a finish
• målgangen = the finish

This is one of the most important differences from English. Instead of saying the målgang, Norwegian normally says målgangen.

Usually ved målgangen is the more natural choice here.

• ved målgangen = at/by the finish
• på målgangen would sound less natural in most standard uses

In Norwegian, ved is commonly used for something located near a point or area, while på often suggests being physically on a surface or within certain kinds of locations/events. For a finish area, ved is the safer and more idiomatic choice.

It sounds neutral to slightly formal/informational.

The use of the s-passive in vises is especially common in:

• instructions
• announcements
• signage
• sports/event information
• technical descriptions

So it feels very natural in contexts like race information, result systems, or event displays.