Jeg leser forsiden.

I read the front page.

Breakdown of Jeg leser forsiden.

• jeg: I
• lese: to read
• forsiden: the front page

Questions & Answers about Jeg leser forsiden.

What tense is leser?

Leser is the present tense of å lese (to read).

So:

• å lese = to read
• leser = read / am reading / is reading / are reading

Just like in Norwegian generally, the present tense can cover both a simple present and a present continuous sense, depending on context.

Why is it leser and not lese?

Because å lese is the infinitive form, meaning to read. After the subject jeg, you need the finite verb form, and in the present tense that is leser.

Compare:

• å lese = to read
• jeg leser = I read / I am reading

This is similar to English to read vs I read, even though the forms look more different in Norwegian.

Why is there no separate word for the before forsiden?

Because Norwegian usually puts the definite article at the end of the noun.

• forside = front page / front side / cover
• forsiden = the front page / the cover

So the -en ending already means the. That is why you do not say den forsiden here in a normal sentence like this.

What is the base form of forsiden?