Learn Hardcore Norwegian: Kameraet er lite, men bildene ser bedre ut enn før. - The camera is small, but the pictures look better than before.

kameraet means “the camera.” In Norwegian, adding -et to a neuter noun (one that ends in -a or another vowel in its indefinite form) makes it definite singular. The base form is kamera (“a camera”), and kamera-et is “the camera.”

Why is the adjective lite used instead of liten?

Norwegian adjectives change form (agree) with the gender and number of the noun when used predicatively (after a linking verb). Here, kameraet is neuter singular, so its predicative adjective takes the neuter ending -t, giving lite. If it were masculine/feminine you’d say liten, and for plural you’d say små (e.g. husene er små).

What is the role of men in this sentence?

men is the coordinating conjunction “but.” It connects two main clauses that contrast:
Clause 1: Kameraet er lite (“The camera is small”)
Clause 2: bildene ser bedre ut enn før (“the pictures look better than before”).

How does the phrase ser ut translate, and what role does ut play?

se ut is a verb‐particle construction meaning “to look/appear.”
• ser = “see” or “looks”
• ut = “out” (here part of the phrasal verb)
Together ser ut = “looks” (in the sense of “appears”). Without ut, ser alone just means “sees.”

Why is bedre used here? Is it the comparative form of bra or god?

bedre is the irregular comparative of both bra (well) and god (good). In this context it behaves like the comparative adjective “better.”
• Positive: bra / god (“good”)
• Comparative: bedre (“better”)
Thus ser bedre ut = “looks better.”

What is the function of enn in bedre ut enn før?

enn is the comparative particle meaning “than.” In Norwegian, comparatives use enn to introduce what you’re comparing to:
• bedre enn før = “better than before.”
You always pair bedre, større, raskere, etc., with enn for “than.”

What does før mean here?

før means “before” in a temporal sense. So enn før literally is “than before.” You’re comparing how the pictures look now versus how they looked previously.

Why are kameraet and bildene in the definite form?

Both nouns refer to something specific or known to the speaker: the camera in question, and the pictures it takes. In Norwegian you add:
• -et for neuter singular: kamera → kameraet (“the camera”)
• -ene for plural definite: bilder → bildene (“the pictures”).

Why is there a comma before men?

Norwegian allows a comma before coordinating conjunctions (og, men, eller, etc.) when each side is a full clause. It clarifies the pause/contrast, though it’s not always mandatory in very short clauses. Here it helps separate “Kameraet er lite” from “men bildene ser bedre ut enn før.”

Can you explain the word order in each clause?

Norwegian follows the V2 rule in main clauses, meaning the finite verb (V) is in second position:
Clause 1:
1 Kameraet (Subject)
2 er (Verb)
3 lite (Predicate adjective)
Clause 2 (after men):
1 bildene (Subject)
2 ser (Verb)
3 bedre ut enn før (Verb phrase + comparison)
Even after the conjunction men, each clause keeps its own subject–verb order.