Morgen er stille.

to be

Breakdown of Morgen er stille.

• morgen: the morning
• stille: quiet

Questions & Answers about Morgen er stille.

Why is there no article before Morgen in this sentence?

In Norwegian, time expressions like morgen (meaning “morning”) are often used without a definite article when referring to the period of the day in general. If one wanted to refer to a specific morning, the definite form morgenen might be used, but in this general context the bare form is preferred.

Why does stille not change its form to agree with Morgen in gender or number?

In Norwegian, adjectives used in the predicate after a linking verb (here, er meaning “is”) remain in their uninflected, base form. That’s why stille doesn’t change to agree with Morgen even though Morgen is a singular noun.

How does the structure of Morgen er stille compare to a similar sentence in English?

The sentence follows a typical subject-linking verb-predicate adjective structure, just like in English. Morgen is the subject, er is the linking verb (equivalent to “is”), and stille is the predicate adjective (equivalent to “quiet”). This makes it quite similar to the English sentence “The morning is quiet.”

Can Morgen ever be confused with the word for “tomorrow” in Norwegian?

While morgen by itself means “morning,” it is important not to confuse it with “tomorrow.” In Norwegian, “tomorrow” is generally expressed as i morgen (with the preposition i). The absence of i here indicates that the word refers to the period of the day rather than the following day.

What tense is used in Morgen er stille, and what does er represent in this context?

The verb er is in the present tense and is the present form of å være (to be). In this sentence, it corresponds directly to the English “is,” describing a current state where the morning is quiet.

Are there any alternative constructions to express the same idea with more specificity?

Yes, you could add elements to provide more context or emphasis. For example, if you wanted to refer to a specific morning, you might say Denne morgenen er stille (“This morning is quiet”), using the definite form morgenen. Alternatively, adding an intensifier—such as Morgen er virkelig stille (“The morning is really quiet”)—can further highlight the state being described.