Det finnes et toalett i kjelleren.

There is a toilet in the basement.

Breakdown of Det finnes et toalett i kjelleren.

• et: a
• i: in
• det: it
• toalettet: the toilet
• kjelleren: the basement
• finnes: to exist

Questions & Answers about Det finnes et toalett i kjelleren.

Why does the sentence start with Det finnes instead of just Det er?

Using Det finnes emphasizes existence (“there exists”). Det er simply states location or identity (“there is/are”). In this context Det finnes is idiomatic for “there is/are” when you want to point out that something exists in a place.

What is the difference between finnes and er?

Finnes comes from the verb “å finnes” (to exist) and always implies existence. Er is the present tense of “å være” (to be) and can indicate identity, location, or state. Use finnes when you talk about something’s existence or availability.

Why do we say et toalett and not en toalett?

Toalett is a neuter noun in Norwegian, so it takes the neuter indefinite article et. Feminine and masculine nouns take ei or en, but toalett belongs to the neuter gender.

Why is kjelleren in the definite form?

Kjelleren is the definite form of kjeller (basement). Here you refer to a specific basement (the one in the building), so you use the -en ending to make it definite.

Why do we use the preposition i before kjelleren instead of på?

I is used for locations you can be “inside” of (rooms, buildings). På is used for surfaces or open areas (on top of something, islands, institutions). Since the toilet is inside the basement, you say i kjelleren.

What word-order rule applies in Det finnes et toalett i kjelleren?

Norwegian follows the V2 rule: the finite verb (here finnes) must come second. Starting with Det, the verb follows immediately, then the subject phrase (et toalett) and any additional information (i kjelleren).

Could I instead say Et toalett finnes i kjelleren?

Grammatically, that word order is possible but sounds awkward. In spoken or written Norwegian you almost always use the dummy subject Det with finnes to introduce existence.

How do you pronounce kjelleren?

Kjelleren is pronounced approximately as “SHEL-luh-ren,” where kj = “sh,” e in the first syllable is like the e in “set,” and the ending -en sounds like “uhn.”