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Bensinstasjonen har en liten butikk.

Bensinstasjonen har en liten butikk.
The gas station has a small store.
FromLesson 20inHardcore Norwegian

Breakdown of Bensinstasjonen har en liten butikk.

ha
to have
en
a
liten
small
butikken
the store
bensinstasjonen
the gas station

Questions & Answers about Bensinstasjonen har en liten butikk.

What does the -en at the end of bensinstasjonen signify?
In Norwegian, the definite form of a common‐gender singular noun is made by adding -en to the end. Here, bensinstasjon means “gas station,” so bensinstasjonen means “the gas station.” There’s no separate word for “the” because the article is a suffix.
How would you say “a gas station” instead of “the gas station”?

Use the indefinite article en before the noun:
en bensinstasjon = “a gas station.”
In the indefinite you keep en in front; in the definite you drop en and add -en to the noun itself.

Why is there an s between bensin and stasjon in bensinstasjon?
That s is a linking letter (called a “fuge-s”) used in many Norwegian compound words. It simply glues the two parts together and makes the compound sound natural.
Why do we say en liten butikk and not just liten butikk?
In Norwegian, singular countable nouns need an article. Butikk is a common‐gender, countable noun, so you must use the indefinite article en, giving you en liten butikk = “a small shop.” Without en, it would be ungrammatical here.
Why is the adjective liten and not lite or lille?

Adjectives agree in gender and definiteness:

  • Indefinite common‐gender (“en-words”): use the base form → liten butikk
  • Indefinite neuter (“et-words”): add -t → lite hus
  • Definite nouns (both genders): add -e → den lille butikken
How do you ask “Does the gas station have a small shop?” in Norwegian?

By inverting the verb and subject for a yes/no question:
Har bensinstasjonen en liten butikk?
Literally, “Has the gas station a small shop?”

How is bensinstasjonen pronounced and where’s the stress?

Approximate transcription: [ˈbɛnːsɪnˌstɑːʃuːnən]

  • Primary stress on the first syllable: BEN-sin-sta-sjo-nen
  • Double n gives a longer n sound
  • sj is pronounced like English “sh”
How would you say “the gas station has no shop” in Norwegian?

Use ingen (no/none) with the noun:
Bensinstasjonen har ingen butikk.
You normally drop liten unless you specifically want to imply “it has no small shop (but maybe a big one),” which is unusual.

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