Hengslet sitter på hengselplaten.

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Breakdown of Hengslet sitter på hengselplaten.

• sitte: to sit
• hengslet: the hinge
• hengselplaten: the hinge plate

Questions & Answers about Hengslet sitter på hengselplaten.

Why is it hengslet and not hengsel?

Because hengslet is a definite form: the hinge.

The basic dictionary form is et hengsel = a hinge.
In the definite singular, Bokmål can use hengslet, and you may also see hengselet. This happens with some nouns ending in -el, where the unstressed e may disappear in inflected forms.

So:

• et hengsel = a hinge
• hengslet / hengselet = the hinge

Why does hengselplaten end in -en?

Because hengselplaten is also in the definite singular: the hinge plate.

The main noun in the compound is plate, which is a common-gender noun:

• en plate = a plate
• platen = the plate

When it becomes a compound, the definite ending still goes on the last part:

• en hengselplate = a hinge plate
• hengselplaten = the hinge plate

Why is hengselplate written as one word?

Because Norwegian normally writes compound nouns as one word.

So where English often writes:

• hinge plate

Norwegian usually writes:

• hengselplate

This is very common in Norwegian. The last part is the main noun, and the first part describes it.