Luften i skogen er friskere enn luften i byen.

The air in the forest is fresher than the air in the city.

Breakdown of Luften i skogen er friskere enn luften i byen.

• være: to be
• i: in
• frisk: fresh
• enn: than
• byen: the city
• skogen: the forest
• luften: the air

Questions & Answers about Luften i skogen er friskere enn luften i byen.

Why is luften written with -en at the end?

In Norwegian the definite article (“the”) is attached to the end of the noun as a suffix.

• luft = “air” (indefinite)
• luften = “the air” (definite singular)

Why do we say i skogen and i byen using the definite forms (skogen, not skog; byen, not by)?

Because we’re talking about the forest and the city (specific places).

• skog/ by = “a forest”/ “a city” (indefinite)
• skogen/ byen = “the forest”/ “the city” (definite)

Why is the preposition i used here instead of på?

Norwegian uses i for “in” when referring to something inside an area or volume (forest, city, house).

• i skogen = in the forest
• i byen = in the city
  på (“on”) is used for surfaces (“på bordet” – on the table) or some islands/locations (“på øya” – on the island).

What does friskere mean, and how do you form the comparative in Norwegian?

friskere = “fresher” or “more fresh.” To form a standard comparative:

1. Take the adjective in its base form: frisk
2. Add -ere for one-syllable (and many two-syllable) adjectives
   → frisk → friskere

Can I say mer frisk instead of friskere?

No. Monosyllabic adjectives like frisk do not use mer + adjective; they use -ere.

• Correct: friskere
• Incorrect: mer frisk

Why do we use enn after friskere?

In Norwegian comparisons, enn corresponds to English “than.” You always link the comparative adjective to the second element with enn:
friskere enn luften i byen
(“fresher than the air in the city”)

Why is luften repeated in luften i skogen and luften i byen?

They’re two separate definite noun phrases:

• the air in the forest (luften i skogen)
• the air in the city (luften i byen)
  Each phrase needs its own noun form.

Is there a way to avoid repeating luften in the comparison?

Yes. You can use the pronoun den (referring back to luften, common-gender) or omit the second noun altogether:
1) With pronoun:
Luften i skogen er friskere enn den i byen.

2) Elliptical (noun understood):
Luften i skogen er friskere enn i byen.