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Questions & Answers about Bilen står utenfor huset.
Why does bilen end with -en instead of just bil?
The suffix -en is the definite article in Norwegian for masculine/feminine nouns. So bil means “a car,” while bilen means “the car.”
What part of speech is står, and why is it used here?
står is the present‐tense form of the verb stå (“to stand”). In contexts of location, Norwegians often say something “stands” where it’s located. Here står conveys that the car is stationary (parked) outside the house.
Why is utenfor one word and what does it mean?
utenfor is a single preposition meaning “outside” (on the outside of something). It combines ut (“out”) + for (“for/front of”), but in modern Norwegian it’s inseparable and always written as one word.
Could you use er (to be) instead of står in this sentence?
Yes, you can say Bilen er utenfor huset and it would be understood. However, står is more specific when referring to something stationary and upright—like a car parked or standing.
What is the difference between utenfor and ute?
- utenfor = “outside” (in relation to a specific boundary, e.g. outside a house or building)
- ute = “out” or “outside” in a more general sense (e.g. the kids are playing outside: Barna leker ute)
Why does huset end with -et?
hus is a neuter noun (“house”). The suffix -et is the neuter definite article, so huset means “the house.”
What is the word‐order in Bilen står utenfor huset?
It follows the typical Norwegian pattern:
- Subject – Bilen
- Verb – står
- Adverbial/prepositional phrase – utenfor huset
This mirrors the English S-V-Adv structure.
Can you omit the preposition and just say Bilen står huset?
No. Norwegian relies on prepositions to indicate spatial relations. Without utenfor, the sentence is incomplete and ungrammatical.
Are there any cases in Norwegian that change noun endings?
Modern Norwegian doesn’t use case endings like German. Definiteness and number are shown by suffixes (-en, -et, -a, -ene, etc.) and adjectives/prepositions handle relationships.