Urglasset er ikke mørkt; tvert imot er det klart.

to be

Breakdown of Urglasset er ikke mørkt; tvert imot er det klart.

• det: it
• ikke: not
• klar: clear

Questions & Answers about Urglasset er ikke mørkt; tvert imot er det klart.

Why is it urglasset and not just urglass?

Because urglasset is the definite singular form of the noun.

• et urglass = an hourglass / a glass
• urglasset = the hourglass / the glass

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

Since urglass is a neuter noun, the definite ending is -et.

Why do we get mørkt and klart with -t at the end?

Because the noun being described is urglasset, and that noun is neuter singular.

In Norwegian, adjectives often agree with the noun:

• common gender singular: mørk, klar
• neuter singular: mørkt, klart
• plural / definite: often mørke, klare

Here the adjectives come after er, so they are predicate adjectives, but they still agree with the subject:

• Urglasset er mørkt
• Urglasset er klart

Why is ikke placed after er in er ikke mørkt?