Jeg henger jakken i gangen.

I hang the coat in the hallway.

Breakdown of Jeg henger jakken i gangen.

• jeg: I
• i: in
• gangen: the hallway
• henge: to hang
• jakken: the coat

Questions & Answers about Jeg henger jakken i gangen.

Why is jakken in the definite form and not just jakke?

In Norwegian you mark definiteness by adding a suffix to the noun.

• jakke = “a coat” (indefinite singular)
• jakken = “the coat” (definite singular)
  Here the speaker refers to their specific coat, so jakken is used.

Why isn’t there an extra article before i gangen (like i en gangen or i den gangen)?

The noun gang (“hallway”) already carries the definite suffix -en, turning it into gangen = “the hallway.”

• i gangen = “in the hallway”
  No additional article is needed because the suffix -en functions as “the.”

Can I say på gangen instead of i gangen? What’s the difference?

Both prepositions occur, but with nuance and regional preference:

• i gangen is most common for inside your home’s hallway.
• på gangen can imply “on the corridor” in larger buildings or communal spaces.
  Eastern Norway speakers typically say i gangen, while some west-coast dialects prefer på gangen, though both will be understood nationwide.

Do I have to include the separable prefix opp (as in henger opp jakken)?

No, it’s optional when the meaning is clear.

• jeg henger jakken i gangen
• jeg henger opp jakken i gangen
  Both are correct. Adding opp (“up”) simply emphasizes the action of placing the coat onto a hook or hanger.

How do you conjugate the verb henge (“to hang”)?

Here are the basic forms:
• Infinitive: henge
• Present: jeg henger
• Past: jeg hang
• Perfect: jeg har hengt

Why is the word order jeg henger jakken i gangen and not jeg henger i gangen jakken?

Norwegian normally follows Subject–Verb–Object–Adverbial (S-V-O-A):
• Subject (jeg)
• Verb (henger)
• Object (jakken)
• Adverbial (i gangen)
If you move i gangen to the front for emphasis, you must invert subject and verb:
• I gangen henger jeg jakken.