Breakdown of Vi låser datamaskinen med et langt passord.
vi
we
et
a
med
with
lang
long
låse
to lock
datamaskinen
the computer
passordet
the password
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Questions & Answers about Vi låser datamaskinen med et langt passord.
Why is datamaskinen in the definite form here, instead of just datamaskin?
We use the definite form because we’re referring to a specific computer that’s already understood in the context. In Norwegian you make a common‐gender noun definite by adding -en. So datamaskin (a computer) becomes datamaskinen (the computer).
Why do we use et with passord, and not en?
Passord is a neuter (intetkjønn) noun in Norwegian. Neuter nouns take et as their indefinite article. Thus et passord means “a password.”
Why does the adjective langt have a -t ending?
In Norwegian, adjectives agree in gender and number with the noun they describe. For a neuter singular noun in the indefinite form, you add -t to the adjective. Here passord is neuter, so lang becomes langt to agree: et langt passord.
Why is the preposition med used before et langt passord? Could we use another preposition?
Med expresses the instrument or means by which something is done—just like English “with.” We lock the computer with a password. Other prepositions like på or i wouldn’t convey the idea of “using an instrument.”
Why isn’t there a preposition before datamaskinen? Shouldn’t direct objects get a preposition?
Norwegian (like English) uses transitive verbs without a preposition before their direct object. Låse is transitive, so you simply say låse datamaskinen (lock the computer), without adding any extra preposition.
What word‐order rule explains why låser comes directly after vi?
Norwegian main clauses follow the V2 rule (verb‐second). That means the finite verb must be the second element in the sentence. Here Vi is first, so låser is placed second, followed by the object and then the instrument phrase.
Can låse be used for both physical locks (like doors) and digital locks (like computers)?
Yes. Å låse covers both physical and digital contexts. You can say Vi låser døren (we lock the door) or Vi låser datamaskinen (we lock the computer). The meaning is clear from context.