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Questions & Answers about Støvet ligger på gulvet.
Why does støvet end with -et, and why isn't there a separate word for "the"?
In Norwegian, the definite article is usually attached to the noun as a suffix. Støv (dust) is a neuter noun, so you add -et to form the definite singular: støvet means "the dust." There's no separate word like the.
What does ligger mean, and why is it used here instead of er?
Ligger is the present tense of ligge (to lie). In Norwegian, to describe where something is situated on a surface, you often use ligge (similar to English "to lie"). So Støvet ligger på gulvet literally means "The dust lies on the floor." You can say Støvet er på gulvet ("The dust is on the floor") and it'll be understood, but ligger is more idiomatic for location.
What form and tense is ligger, and what are the other forms of ligge?
Ligger is the present tense. The infinitive is ligge, the simple past is lå, and the past participle is ligget.
Why is it på gulvet, not i gulvet?
The preposition på means "on" or "at" when talking about surfaces. Gulvet is "the floor." So på gulvet means "on the floor." I gulvet would mean "inside the floor," which doesn't make sense here.
Why does gulvet also have -et at the end?
Gulv (floor) is another neuter noun. The definite singular is formed by adding -et, giving gulvet ("the floor").
Is støvet singular or plural, and how does this relate to English?
In Norwegian, støvet is singular definite (even though "dust" is uncountable in English). If you wanted an indefinite form you could say et støv ("a speck of dust"), but normally støv is used as a mass noun and made definite with -et.
Can you drop ligger and just say støvet på gulvet to mean "the dust on the floor"?
As a noun phrase, støvet på gulvet can mean "the dust on the floor." But in a full sentence describing location you need a verb: Støvet ligger på gulvet.
How is the ø in støvet pronounced?
The Norwegian ø is a rounded front vowel, similar to the e in French peur or the ö in German schön. A rough English approximation is saying "stuu-vet" but with your lips more rounded on that vowel.