Elon.io is an online learning platform
We have an entire course teaching Norwegian grammar and vocabulary.
Questions & Answers about Gangen er ganske smal.
What does ganske mean in this sentence?
ganske is an adverb meaning “quite” or “rather.” It modifies the adjective to express a moderate degree of narrowness, similar to “fairly” in English.
Why is ganske placed before smal?
In Norwegian, adverbs that modify adjectives normally come before the adjective. So you say ganske smal (“quite narrow”), not smal ganske.
What’s the difference between ganske and veldig?
veldig means “very” (a stronger degree), while ganske means “quite/fairly” (a milder, more moderate degree).
Why is the noun gangen used here instead of gang?
gangen is the definite form (“the hallway”). In Norwegian, you form the definite singular of most masculine nouns by adding -en to the end of the word.
What is the indefinite form of gangen?
The indefinite singular is en gang (“a hallway”).
Why is the adjective smal not smale, even though gangen is definite?
When an adjective follows a linking verb like er, it stays in its base (uninflected) form, regardless of gender or definiteness. That’s why it’s smal, not smale, here.
Can I replace ganske with temmelig or nokså?
Yes. Both temmelig and nokså mean “rather/fairly” and can be used almost interchangeably with ganske. nokså is a bit more formal than temmelig.
Is there a difference between smal and trang when describing a hallway?
Yes. smal focuses on narrowness in width, while trang implies a cramped or tight feeling—narrow plus little room to move.
How do I pronounce Gangen er ganske smal?
A typical pronunciation is
[ˈɡɑŋən ær ˈɡɑŋsə smɑːl]
– the -en in gangen sounds like a short schwa [ə], and ganske has a hard [ɡ] at the start.