Den myke sofaen står i stuen på det store teppet.

The soft sofa stands in the living room on the big carpet.

Breakdown of Den myke sofaen står i stuen på det store teppet.

• stor: big
• i: in
• på: on
• stå: to stand
• stuen: the living room
• myk: soft
• teppet: the carpet
• sofaen: the sofa

Questions & Answers about Den myke sofaen står i stuen på det store teppet.

Why do we say Den myke sofaen instead of Et mykt sofa?

In Norwegian, sofa is a common‐gender noun (en sofa).
– Indefinite: en myk sofa (“a soft sofa”)
– Definite: you use den (the demonstrative/article for common gender) + adjective in its definite form (myke) + the noun with its definite suffix (sofaen).
So Den myke sofaen literally means “the soft sofa.”

What is the -en ending doing in sofaen?

Norwegian often attaches the definite article as a suffix on the noun.
– sofa = “sofa” (indefinite)
– sofaen = “the sofa” (definite)

Why does the adjective myke end in -e here?

When an adjective describes a definite noun in Norwegian, it takes the weak form by adding -e.
– indefinite: en myk sofa
– definite: den myke sofaen

Why is the verb står used here instead of simply er?

Norwegians often use location verbs that match the object’s orientation:
– står (“stands”) for upright objects
– ligger (“lies”) for flat/lying objects
You could say Sofaen er i stuen, but står emphasizes its standing position.

Why is stuen in the definite form with -en?

We’re talking about one specific living room (probably the one in this house). In Norwegian you make it definite by adding -en:
– en stue = “a living room”
– stuen = “the living room”

Why isn’t there a separate word like det or den before stuen after the preposition i?

Prepositions like i (“in”) simply combine with the definite‐suffixed noun. There’s no need for an extra article:
– i stuen = “in the living room.”

Why do we use på instead of i for “on” the rug?

Norwegian prepositions differ by spatial relation:
– i = “in” (inside something)
– på = “on” (on a surface)
Thus på teppet = “on the rug.”

Why does det store teppet have both det and the suffix -et on teppet?

When you modify a definite noun with an adjective, you use:

1. the neuter definite article det,
2. the adjective in its weak form (store),
3. the noun plus its definite suffix (teppet).
   So det store teppet = “the large rug.”

Why does the adjective store end with -e here?

Same rule as before: adjectives describing a definite noun take the weak -e ending.
– et stort teppe (“a large rug”)
– det store teppet (“the large rug”)

Why is står in second position and the two prepositional phrases follow after?

Norwegian main clauses obey the V2 (verb‐second) rule: the finite verb (står) occupies slot 2, regardless of what’s first. Here:
1) Den myke sofaen (subject)
2) står (verb)
3) i stuen på det store teppet (rest of the clause)