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Questions & Answers about En snøball ruller ned bakken.
Why is bakken in the definite form?
Norwegian marks definiteness with a suffix on the noun. bakke = hill (indefinite), bakken = the hill (definite). The sentence refers to a specific/understood hill, so it uses bakken.
Can I say ned en bakke instead of ned bakken?
Yes. ned en bakke means down a hill (non-specific). ned bakken means down the hill (specific).
Why en snøball, not et snøball?
snøball is masculine in Bokmål, so its indefinite article is en, not et (neuter). Forms:
- singular: en snøball → snøballen
- plural: snøballer → snøballene
How do I say it with a definite subject, the snowball?
Use the suffixed definite on the noun: Snøballen ruller ned bakken.
Why does Norwegian use simple present ruller where English would say “is rolling”?
Norwegian uses the simple present for ongoing actions. You can add emphasis with expressions like holder på å rulle or er i ferd med å rulle, but ruller usually suffices.
Can I use nedover instead of ned?
Yes. nedover highlights movement along a downward path; ned can feel a bit more direct. Both are fine here: ruller ned bakken / ruller nedover bakken.
What’s the difference between rulle, trille, and skli/glide?
- rulle: roll by rotating (default for balls, snowballs).
- trille: roll, often with wheels or when something is being pushed (a stroller, a cart). Can be used for balls, but suggests being moved/rolled.
- skli/glide: slide without rotating (e.g., on ice).
What is ned grammatically, and where does ned bakken go in the sentence?
ned is a directional preposition/adverb. ned bakken is a prepositional phrase and typically follows the verb: ruller ned bakken.
Can I front the place phrase for emphasis, like starting with Ned bakken?
Yes. Norwegian main clauses are verb-second (V2). If you front Ned bakken, the finite verb stays in second position: Ned bakken ruller en snøball.
Where does negation ikke go?
After the finite verb (and usually after the subject): En snøball ruller ikke ned bakken. With something fronted: I dag ruller en snøball ikke ned bakken.
How is ø pronounced, and what do the double consonants indicate?
ø is a rounded vowel like French eu or German ö. In ruller, u is like the vowel in English put. Double consonants (ll, kk) signal that the preceding vowel (u in ruller, a in bakken) is short.
Is en here the article or the number one?
It’s the indefinite article. When you mean the number, you can stress it and often write én: Én snøball ruller ned bakken (one snowball).
How do I express this as a general truth?
Use the plural: Snøballer ruller ned bakker.
Can I drop the article and say Snøball ruller …?
Not in normal sentences. Singular count nouns usually need an article. Article-less forms are for headlines or notes.
Where do adjectives go with this noun?
Before the noun in the indefinite, and with double definiteness in the definite:
- En stor snøball ruller ned bakken.
- Den store snøballen ruller ned bakken.
Which pronoun refers back to snøball?
den (common gender): Snøballen ruller. Den er stor.
Why is snøball written as one word?
Compounds are written together in Norwegian. snø + ball → snøball. Writing snø ball is incorrect.