Learn Hardcore Norwegian: Vakten mener at skjerfet mitt ser stilfullt ut. - The guard thinks that my scarf looks stylish.

vakten is the definite singular form of vakt, which means “guard” (often “the guard” or “security guard”). In Norwegian you attach the definite article to the end of the noun. So en vakt = “a guard,” and vakten = “the guard.”

What is the function of at in this sentence?

at is a subordinating conjunction meaning “that.” It introduces the clause skjerfet mitt ser stilfullt ut as the object of mener. In English you’d say “The guard thinks that my scarf looks stylish.”

Why is it skjerfet mitt instead of mitt skjerf?

In Norwegian the possessive pronoun usually comes after the noun:
• skjerfet mitt = “my scarf.”
Placing mitt before skjerf (i.e. mitt skjerf) is grammatically possible but much less common in everyday speech.

Why is the verb phrase ser stilfullt ut instead of just ser stilfullt?

ser ut is a phrasal verb (verb + particle) meaning “looks” or “appears.” Without ut, ser simply means “sees.” You need the particle ut to convey “to look/appear.”

Why is stilfullt ending with -t, and how do Norwegian adjectives agree with nouns?

skjerf is a neuter noun. In the indefinite singular neuter form, most adjectives take an extra -t. The basic pattern in Norwegian Bokmål is:
• Common gender (indefinite): no ending (e.g. en fin dag)
• Neuter gender (indefinite): add -t (e.g. et fint hus)
• Definite (both genders) and plural: add -e (e.g. de fine dagene, fine hus)

What’s the difference between mener and synes?

• mener = “to be of the opinion,” used for considered or argued opinions (“I am of the opinion that…”).
• synes = “to think” in the sense of giving a personal impression or feeling (“I feel/believe that…”).
Here vakten mener emphasizes that the guard is expressing his opinion.

Can you omit at after mener, as in English “I think my scarf looks stylish”?

Yes. In spoken and informal written Norwegian you often drop at after verbs like mener, tror, synes, etc.
So you can equally say: Vakten mener skjerfet mitt ser stilfullt ut.
However, including at is clearer and more common in formal writing.

How would you say the sentence if you owned multiple scarves? How does the adjective change?

• Plural of skjerf is skjerf (unchanged), definite plural “the scarves” is skjerfene, and “my scarves” is skjerfene mine.
• The adjective stilfull in plural takes -e: stilfulle.
So you’d say:
Vakten mener at skjerfene mine ser stilfulle ut.

Are stilfull and stilig interchangeable? What’s the nuance?

Both mean “stylish,” but:
• stilig is more casual and widely used (“cool,” “trendy”). It doesn’t get a -t in neuter.
• stilfull is a bit more formal or “elegant.” In neuter it becomes stilfullt, and in plural stilfulle.
Choose based on tone—stilig for everyday conversation, stilfull for a slightly more refined register.