Breakdown of Det er lettere å jobbe hjemme enn på kontoret.
være
to be
å
to
jobbe
to work
det
it
på
at
hjemme
at home
kontoret
the office
enn
than
lettere
easier
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Questions & Answers about Det er lettere å jobbe hjemme enn på kontoret.
What does Det er lettere mean in English, and why is Det er used instead of starting directly with Lettere?
Det er lettere literally translates to “It is easier.” Norwegian often uses Det er as an impersonal or “dummy” subject just like English uses “It is” in general statements. You could rephrase as “Å jobbe hjemme er lettere enn på kontoret,” but starting with Det er lettere å … is more idiomatic in spoken and written Norwegian.
How do you form the comparative lettere from the adjective lett?
The adjective lett (meaning “easy” or “light”) forms its comparative by simply adding -ere, giving lettere (“easier”). No vowel change or irregular form is needed here, so:
lett → lettere
easy → easier
Why is there an å before jobbe, and when do we need it?
The particle å marks the infinitive in Norwegian, equivalent to English “to.” After adjectives like lettere, you use å + infinitive:
lettere å jobbe = “easier to work.”
Without å, you wouldn’t have the proper infinitive form.
What is the difference between hjem and hjemme, and why is hjemme used here?
- hjem is a direction or destination: “home” as in “gå hjem” (“go home”).
- hjemme is an adverb meaning “at home.”
Since the sentence describes the location of work (working at home), you use hjemme.
Why is it på kontoret instead of i kontoret?
Norwegian often uses på for activities happening at a place (like på skolen, på jobben, på kontoret). It corresponds to English “at” rather than “in.” While i kontoret isn’t grammatically wrong, på kontoret is the usual way to say “at the office.”
Can you say Det er lettere å jobbe hjemmefra enn på kontoret?
Yes. Adding fra highlights “from” home:
Det er lettere å jobbe hjemmefra enn på kontoret.
Here hjemmefra means “from home.” Both versions are correct; including fra makes it explicit.
Why is the word order lettere å jobbe hjemme? Could you say lettere hjemme å jobbe?
In Norwegian, the typical verb phrase order is [å + verb] + adverbial of place. So you say å jobbe hjemme (to work at home). Placing hjemme before å jobbe (e.g. lettere hjemme å jobbe) would break the normal structure and sound unnatural.