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Questions & Answers about Hun står nær vinduet.
What does nær mean in this sentence?
nær is a preposition meaning near or close to. In Hun står nær vinduet it tells us she is standing near the window.
Do I need another preposition like av after nær?
No. In Norwegian nær directly governs the noun. You do not add av—you simply say nær vinduet, not nær av vinduet.
Could I say Hun står ved vinduet instead? What’s the difference between nær and ved?
Yes, you can say Hun står ved vinduet.
- ved means by or right next to, emphasising immediate proximity.
- nær means near, implying closeness but not necessarily touching.
They’re often interchangeable, but ved suggests she’s almost up against the window.
Why is it vinduet instead of vindu?
Norwegian marks definiteness with a suffix.
- vindu = a window (indefinite)
- vinduet = the window (definite)
So Hun står nær vinduet literally means She stands near the-window.
Why do we use står here? Couldn’t I say sitter or er?
- står = stands, describing her posture.
- If she were seated, you’d say Hun sitter nær vinduet.
- You can say Hun er nær vinduet (She is near the window) but that only describes location, not her posture.
Is this sentence in the present continuous tense?
Norwegian doesn’t have a separate continuous tense. The simple present står covers both she stands and she is standing.
Can I say Hun står nær til vinduet?
No. You don’t combine nær with til. nær alone means near, so you simply say nær vinduet.
Can I change the word order, for example Nær vinduet står hun?
Yes. Norwegian allows you to front an adverbial for emphasis.
Structure: [Adverbial] + [Verb] + [Subject] + …
So Nær vinduet står hun is correct and shifts the focus to near the window.
Is nær always a preposition?
No. nær can also be:
- an adjective: en nær venn = a close friend
- an adverb: holde seg nær = stay close
In Hun står nær vinduet it functions as a preposition.