Log inSign up

Vi sitter i skyggen i hagen.

Vi sitter i skyggen i hagen.
We sit in the shade in the garden.
FromLesson 26inHardcore Norwegian
……

Breakdown of Vi sitter i skyggen i hagen.

vi
we
i
in
hagen
the garden
sitte
to sit
skyggen
the shade
AI Language TutorTry it ↗
“What's the best way to learn Norwegian grammar?”
Norwegian grammar becomes intuitive with practice. Focus on understanding the core patterns first — how sentences are structured, how verbs change form, and how words relate to each other. Our course breaks these concepts into small lessons so you can build understanding step by step.

Sign up free — start using our AI language tutor

Start learning Norwegian

Master Norwegian — from Vi sitter i skyggen i hagen to fluency

All course content and exercises are completely free — no paywalls, no trial periods.

  • ✓ Infinitely deep — unlimited vocabulary and grammar
  • ✓ Fast-paced — build complex sentences from the start
  • ✓ Unforgettable — efficient spaced repetition system
  • ✓ AI tutor to answer your grammar questions
Start learning Norwegian freeBrowse the full course

More from this lesson

sykkelstienJeg sykler på en ny sykkelsti hver morgen.skyggentrærneSykkelstien er bred, men skyggen fra trærne gjør den kjølig.gatehjørnetMøt meg ved gatehjørnet klokken åtte.turisten

Questions & Answers about Vi sitter i skyggen i hagen.

Why does Norwegian use the simple present form sitter where English uses the progressive are sitting?
In Norwegian there is no separate continuous aspect. The present tense (e.g. sitter, from å sitte) covers both “sit” and “am/are sitting.” Context tells you whether it’s a one-off (“we sit once”) or ongoing (“we are sitting”).
Why is skyggen in the definite form without an article like en?
Norwegian marks definiteness with a suffix rather than a separate word. skygge means “shade,” and adding -en (→ skyggen) gives “the shade.” So i skyggen literally means “in the shade.”
Could we say i en skygge instead of i skyggen? How would the meaning change?
Yes. i en skygge means “in a shade,” focusing on one specific patch of shade among many. i skyggen (“in the shade”) refers to shade in general or the obvious shade you’re under.
Why do we use i for both skyggen and hagen? Are there other prepositions we could use?

i means “in.” You sit i skyggen (in the shade) and i hagen (in the garden). Other common location prepositions:

  • under (“under”), e.g. under treet (“under the tree”)
  • på (“on”), e.g. på benken (“on the bench”)
Why is hagen in the definite form? Could I say i en hage instead?
hage = “garden.” Adding -n → hagen = “the garden.” i hagen implies a specific garden (probably the speaker’s). i en hage would mean “in a garden,” i.e. any garden in general.
Is the word order flexible? Could we say I skyggen i hagen sitter vi?
Yes. Norwegian follows the V2 rule: whichever element you move into first position, the finite verb must come second. So I skyggen i hagen sitter vi is correct (and a bit poetic). The neutral order is Vi sitter i skyggen i hagen (Subject-Verb-Adverbials).
How do you pronounce skyggen?

In many dialects it’s [ˈʃʏɡən]:

  • sk- before y often sounds like English “sh.”
  • y is a close front rounded vowel (like French u in lune).
  • -en is a quick unstressed “uh” (schwa).
    Some dialects keep a clear sk ([ˈskʏɡən]).