Learn Hardcore Norwegian: Han feier verandaen og setter kosten ved gjerdet. - He sweeps the veranda and puts the broom by the fence.

feier is the present tense of å feie (to sweep): Han feier verandaen = He is sweeping the veranda.
feirer is the present tense of å feire (to celebrate): Han feirer bursdag = He is celebrating a birthday. Note: en feier also means “a chimney sweep” (a noun), so context matters.

Why is it verandaen (definite) and not just veranda?

Norwegian uses the definite form a lot when a specific, known item is meant. Here, “the veranda” is clear from context (his/their veranda), so verandaen is natural.

Common gender: en veranda – verandaen.
Saying en veranda would introduce “a veranda” as a new, unspecified item, which is odd in this context.

Can I say feier på verandaen instead of feier verandaen?

Yes, but there’s a nuance:

feier verandaen: the veranda is the direct object; he is cleaning that surface.
feier på verandaen: he is doing the activity of sweeping on the veranda (location), without stressing that the veranda itself is the thing being cleaned. Both are correct; the original emphasizes cleaning the veranda.

Why setter and not legger or putter?

sette: place/put something so it “stands” or is set down (often upright), or as a general “put/place.” A broom is typically set upright.
legge: lay something down horizontally. Use this if he lays the broom down flat: legger kosten.
putte: very general “to put,” common in speech, often for small items or into containers: putter nøklene i lomma.
stille: “set/adjust” (a clock, settings) or “place upright,” but less used here. In this sentence setter is the most idiomatic.

What exactly is kosten? Is that “cost”?

Here kosten is “the broom.”

Noun: en kost – kosten – koster – kostene.
It’s masculine in Bokmål, so the definite is -en, not -a. Kosta would be wrong in Bokmål for “the broom.”
Note: kost can also mean “food/fare” in compounds (e.g., kost og losji), but context makes “broom” clear.
Synonyms: (feie)kost, while børste is “brush.”

What does ved mean here, and how is it different from similar prepositions?

Here ved means “by/next to/near.” Nuances:

ved gjerdet = by/near the fence (not necessarily touching).
ved siden av gjerdet = beside/next to the fence (a bit more explicit).
inntil gjerdet or mot gjerdet = against the fence (touching/leaning). Also, ved can be a noun meaning “firewood,” but here it’s a preposition.

Why gjerdet with -et?

Because gjerde is a neuter noun:

et gjerde – gjerdet – gjerder – gjerdene. So the definite singular ends in -et.

Do I need a comma before og here?

No. When og links two verb phrases with the same subject (Han), there’s no comma: Han feier … og setter …. You would use a comma if you were joining two longer, separate main clauses in some contexts, but not here.

Is Norwegian present tense used for “is doing” (progressive) like in English?

Yes. Simple present often covers the English present progressive:

Han feier = He is sweeping / He sweeps. If you want to emphasize an ongoing process, you can say:
Han holder på å feie verandaen (He is in the middle of sweeping).
Han er i ferd med å feie (He is about to/just about to sweep).

How would I say this in the past?

Simple past (preterite): Han feide (eller: feiet) verandaen og satte kosten ved gjerdet.
Present perfect: Han har feid (eller: feiet) verandaen og har satt kosten ved gjerdet. Common forms: feide/har feid; both feiet/har feiet are also accepted in Bokmål. Sette is irregular: setter – satte – har satt.

Is sette fra seg a good choice here?

Yes, very natural:

Han setter fra seg kosten ved gjerdet = He puts the broom down by the fence. This emphasizes putting something down and leaving it there.

I often mix up og and å. Which is which?

og = “and.”
å = “to” (infinitive marker): å sette, å feie. In the sentence it’s og because it connects two actions: … feier … og setter ….

Pronunciation tips for key words?

feier: two syllables, “FEI-er” (like English “eye” in the first syllable).
setter: short vowels because of the double consonant; say “SET-ter.”
ved: long “e”; the “d” is usually silent.
gjerdet: the gj- is pronounced like English “y” (approximately “YER-de”).
verandaen: stress on “-ran-”: “ve-RAN-da-en.”

What’s the difference between veranda, terrasse, and balkong?

veranda: roofed or partially enclosed platform attached to a house, often at ground level (usage varies).
terrasse: terrace/patio, usually at ground level or on a roof.
balkong: balcony, protruding from an upper floor. You’ll hear overlap in everyday speech; people often use what’s common locally. Another word you may see is altan (more common in Nynorsk/regional usage).

Could I say Han legger kosten ved gjerdet?

Yes, if he lays it down horizontally. Nuances:

setter kosten ved gjerdet: neutral or slightly suggests upright/standing placement.
legger kosten ved gjerdet: explicitly laying it down. If you mean “leans it against the fence,” use lener den mot gjerdet or setter den inntil gjerdet.

What’s the difference between setter and sitter?

setter = present of å sette (to set/put): transitive, needs an object. Han setter kosten …
sitter = present of å sitte (to sit): intransitive. Han sitter på verandaen. Past forms also differ:
satte (he set) vs satt (he sat).