Learn Hardcore Norwegian: Både tastaturet og musen fungerer uten kabler. - Both the keyboard and the mouse work without cables.

både ... og is the equivalent of English “both ... and ...”. In Både tastaturet og musen the word både introduces the first element (tastaturet), og introduces the second (musen). You can use this pair to connect nouns, adjectives, adverbs or even clauses. No comma is needed between the two coordinated elements.

Why are tastaturet and musen in their definite forms?

In Norwegian you form the definite singular by adding -et for neuter nouns (tastatur → tastaturet) and -en for masculine/feminine nouns (mus → musen). Definite forms mark that you’re talking about specific, known objects—in this case the particular keyboard and the particular mouse.

Could this sentence use the indefinite forms et tastatur og en mus instead?

You would use indefinite forms when introducing something for the first time or speaking in general:
• Jeg kjøpte et tastatur og en mus. (“I bought a keyboard and a mouse.”)
In Både tastaturet og musen fungerer uten kabler we’re referring to known devices, so the definite forms are appropriate.

Why is kabler plural and without an article after uten?

The preposition uten (“without”) is followed by a noun in the indefinite. Here you express “without cables” in general—no specific cables—so you use the indefinite plural kabler (cable → cables). No article is required.

Can I say trådløst tastatur og trådløs mus instead of uten kabler?

Yes. trådløs is the adjective “wireless”. For example:
• Et trådløst tastatur og en trådløs mus fungerer perfekt.
• Tastaturet og musen er trådløse.
Using uten kabler literally emphasizes the absence of wires, while trådløs focuses on the wireless feature.

What does fungerer mean, and could I use virker instead?

fungere means “to function” or “to work” (operate correctly). virke can also mean “to work” or “to seem to work”. In this context musen fungerer and musen virker are largely interchangeable, though fungere is slightly more technical.

Does starting with Både affect word order or cause verb inversion?

Norwegian main clauses follow the V2 rule: the finite verb must be in second position. Here Både tastaturet og musen counts as one subject constituent in first position, so the verb fungerer remains in second position. The normal Subject-Verb-Adverbial order is preserved.