Breakdown of Bankkortet ligger under pennen på skrivebordet.
på
on
under
under
pennen
the pen
ligge
to lie
skrivebordet
the desk
bankkortet
the bank card
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Questions & Answers about Bankkortet ligger under pennen på skrivebordet.
Why does bankkortet end in -et?
Norwegian forms the definite singular of neuter nouns by adding -et to the stem. Here, bankkort (bank card) becomes bankkortet (the bank card).
How do you say “a bank card” or “bank cards” in Norwegian?
- Indefinite singular: et bankkort (a bank card)
- Indefinite plural: bankkort (bank cards)
- Definite plural: bankkortene (the bank cards)
What does ligger mean, and why not use er (to be)?
ligger is the present tense of ligge (“to lie” or “to be situated”). It tells you where something is located. er simply means “is” and doesn’t convey that sense of physical placement.
Why is under used here instead of another preposition?
under means “under” or “beneath.” It correctly indicates that bankkortet is positioned below pennen.
Why do we say på skrivebordet and not i skrivebordet?
på is the standard preposition for “on” a surface (like a desk). i would mean “in” something (for example, in a drawer or box).
How is skrivebordet formed?
It’s a compound noun made from skrive (to write) + bord (table). Adding -et makes it definite: skrivebordet = “the desk.”
Can I move under pennen or på skrivebordet to the front of the sentence?
Yes. Norwegian follows the V2 (verb‐second) rule. If you start with a phrase, the finite verb stays in second position. For example:
Under pennen på skrivebordet ligger bankkortet.