Vinduet åpnes automatisk.

The window opens automatically.

Breakdown of Vinduet åpnes automatisk.

• åpne: to open
• vinduet: the window
• automatisk: automatically

Questions & Answers about Vinduet åpnes automatisk.

What does vinduet mean, and how is the definite form created with “-et”?

vinduet is the definite singular form of vindu (window). Norwegian marks definiteness by adding a suffix: vindu (a window) + -et (neuter singular definite) → vinduet (the window).

Why is the verb åpnes used here instead of åpner?

åpne is a transitive verb (“to open [something]”). If you say vinduet åpner, it implies the window is doing the opening (active voice). To express that the window is being opened (passive voice), you add -s to the present tense form: åpner → åpnes (“(is) opened”).

What tense and voice does åpnes represent, and can I form the passive another way?

åpnes is present-tense passive (the “s-passive”). An alternative is the “bli-passive”:
• vinduet blir åpnet also means “the window is opened.”
Both are common, but åpnes is shorter and frequently seen in instructions or automated messages.

Where’s the agent (the doer of the action) in this sentence?

It’s omitted because the doer is unknown or irrelevant. If you need to mention it, use av + agent:
• Vinduet åpnes automatisk av sensoren.
(“The window is opened automatically by the sensor.”)

Is automatisk an adjective or an adverb here, and why doesn’t it change form?

Here automatisk describes how the window opens, so it functions as an adverb. In Norwegian many adjectives double as adverbs without alteration:
• rask → kjører rask (“drives quickly”)
• automatisk → åpnes automatisk (“opens automatically”)

How do you pronounce the letter å in åpnes and vinduet?

The Norwegian å sounds like the “o” in English born or more. Approximate pronunciations:
• åpnes ≈ “OHP-nes”
• vinduet ≈ “VIN-doo-et” (three syllables: VIN-du-et)