Bladet faller på teppet når det blåser.

The leaf falls on the carpet when it is windy.

Breakdown of Bladet faller på teppet når det blåser.

• det: it
• på: on
• når: when
• blåse: to blow
• falle: to fall
• teppet: the carpet
• bladet: the leaf

Questions & Answers about Bladet faller på teppet når det blåser.

Why does bladet end with -et? Is it the same as in English?

In Norwegian, the definite article (equivalent to “the”) is added as a suffix to the noun:
• blad = “a leaf”
• bladet = “the leaf”
This applies to neuter nouns (which often take –et in the definite singular). English uses a separate word “the,” while Norwegian tacks it on.

What does teppet mean – a blanket or a carpet?

teppe can mean blanket (like a throw) or carpet/rug (floor covering). Context tells you:
• On a sofa or bed → blanket
• On the floor, especially under furniture or at a door → carpet/rug
Here a leaf falling “på teppet” outdoors suggests a carpet or rug.

Why is på used in på teppet? Could we say i teppet?

på means “on” or “upon” and indicates something resting on a surface:
• på bordet – on the table
• på teppet – on the carpet
i teppet would mean “inside the carpet,” which doesn’t make sense here.

How does word order work with når in når det blåser?

når (when) introduces a subordinate clause. Norwegian subordinate clauses follow Subject–Verb order (not the V2 main‐clause rule):
• Subordinate: når + det (S) + blåser (V).
In a main clause, the verb must come second, e.g. Bladet faller…

Could we use hvis instead of når here?

Both can translate as “if/when,” but:
• når refers to repeated or certain events (“whenever/when”).
• hvis refers to conditional or hypothetical events (“if”).
Since wind blows regularly, når det blåser = whenever it’s windy.

Why is there det before blåser? What does det do?

In weather expressions, Norwegian uses a dummy subject det (“it”):
• det regner – “it is raining”
• det snør – “it is snowing”
• det blåser – “it is windy” (literally “it blows”).

Why is faller used in simple present, not a continuous form like in English (“is falling”)?

Norwegian doesn’t have a continuous tense. The simple present (faller) covers both “falls” and “is falling.” Context tells you whether it’s a habitual action or an action in progress.

How do you pronounce blåser and teppet, especially the å and double pp?

• å is pronounced like “aw” in “law.”
• Double consonants mean the preceding vowel is short:
– teppet = /ˈtɛpːɛt/ (short “e”)
• blåser = /ˈbloːsər/ (long “å”).
Stress is on the first syllable.