Learn Hardcore Norwegian: Vakten sjekker passet ved inngangen. - The guard checks the passport at the entrance.

vakt is a common-gender (en-noun) in Bokmål, so the indefinite singular is en vakt. To form the definite singular, add the suffix -en, giving vakten.

What is the gender of pass, and why does its definite form end in -et (passet)?

pass is a neuter noun (et-noun), so the indefinite singular is et pass. The definite singular is formed by adding -et, resulting in passet.

What is the infinitive of sjekker, and how do you form its present tense?

The infinitive is sjekke (to check). In Norwegian, you typically form the present tense by adding -er to the infinitive stem. So sjekke → sjekker.

Why does sjekker have a double k?

When a one-syllable verb stem ends in a single consonant preceded by a short vowel, you double the consonant before adding an ending like -er. sjekk- (short vowel /e/) + -er → sjekker.

How is skj pronounced in sjekker, and is it different from sj?

In Bokmål, both skj and sj are usually pronounced /ʃ/ (like English sh). So sjekker is pronounced [ʃɛkːər].

What does the preposition ved mean, and why do we say ved inngangen instead of på inngangen?

ved means “by” or “at” in the sense of proximity. på means “on” or “at” when referring to a surface or specific location. For actions occurring next to the entrance, use ved inngangen (“at the entrance”).

Can the adverbial phrase ved inngangen be moved within the sentence, and what effect does that have?

Yes. Placing it at the beginning shifts emphasis to the location:

Ved inngangen sjekker vakten passet.

It still means “At the entrance, the guard checks the passport,” but foregrounds the entrance.

How would you express “a guard checks a passport at the entrance” using indefinite forms instead of definite?

Use En vakt sjekker et pass ved inngangen.
Here en vakt = “a guard,” et pass = “a passport,” and ved inngangen remains the same.