Learn Hardcore Norwegian: Jeg legger pengene i en skjult lomme i lommeboken. - I put the money in a hidden pocket in the wallet.

– Both legge and sette can translate as “to put,” but in Norwegian their uses differ.
– legge (legger) is used when placing something flat or generally positioning it (like money).
– sette implies setting something upright.
– You don’t need ned here; legge alone already means “put down.”
Since bills are flat and you’re placing them into a pocket, legger is the natural choice.

Why is pengene in the definite plural (the money) and not the indefinite penger (money)?

The definite plural pengene refers to a specific amount of money—here, the money you have or intend to hide. The indefinite plural penger is used when talking about money in general. Because this is a particular sum, you use pengene (“the money”).

Why is there en before skjult lomme but no separate article before lommeboken?

– en skjult lomme uses the indefinite article en (“a”) because this pocket hasn’t been introduced yet—it’s a hidden pocket.
– lommeboken already ends in -en, the definite article attached: lommebok + en = lommeboken (“the wallet”).
In Norwegian, definite nouns take an ending rather than a separate word.

Why doesn’t the adjective skjult take an ending like -e or -t here?

Adjective endings depend on the noun’s gender and definiteness. For skjult lomme:
• lomme is common gender, indefinite singular.
• In this case, adjectives use the weak form without an ending: skjult.
Compare:
• Neuter singular: et skjult rom (add -t).
• Definite/plural: den skjulte lommen, skjulte rom (add -e).

How is lommeboken formed, and why is it one word?

lommeboken is a compound:
– lomme (“pocket”) + bok (“book”) + -en (definite suffix) = lommeboken (“the pocket-book” or “the wallet”).
Norwegian builds compound nouns by joining all parts into one word, with the head (main noun) at the end.

When should I use i versus på for “in” or “on” in Norwegian?

Use i for inside or enclosed spaces:
– i en boks, i lomma, i lommeboken.
Use på for surfaces or open areas:
– på bordet (on the table), på bakken (on the ground).
Since you place money inside a pocket, you use i.

Could I say Jeg legger pengene i den skjulte lommen i lommeboken instead?

Yes. By using den + adjective with -e, you specify the hidden pocket (definite):
den skjulte lommen.
Use indefinite en skjult lomme when introducing something new (“a hidden pocket”). Use definite den skjulte lommen if that pocket is already known in the context.

Is the word order Jeg legger pengene i en skjult lomme i lommeboken the only option?

The standard structure is Subject–Verb–Object–Adverbial (SVOA):
Jeg (S) legger (V) pengene (O) i en skjult lomme i lommeboken (A).
You can front the adverbial, but this causes inversion:
I lommeboken legger jeg pengene i en skjult lomme.
This is more emphatic or formal; the unchanged SVOA is most common.