Learn Hardcore Norwegian: Bladene ligger på bakken om høsten.

Bladene is the definite plural form of blad (leaf), so it means the leaves. In Norwegian you add -ene to make a masculine noun both plural and definite. Without -ene, blader would simply mean “leaves” in an indefinite sense.

Why do we use ligger here instead of er?

In Norwegian you use ligge to describe something lying or resting on a surface—where it is positioned horizontally. Ligger is the present tense of ligge. While you could use er (to be) for location, liggere gives a clearer sense of “lying on” (just like English “lie on”).

What does på bakken mean, and why is the preposition på used?

På bakken translates as on the ground. The preposition på is used for “on” surfaces in Norwegian, similar to English. Bakken is the definite form of bakke (ground, hill), so the phrase literally means on the ground.

Why is it om høsten and not i høsten?