Learn Hardcore Norwegian: Det første avsnittet er kort, men det andre er langt. - The first paragraph is short, but the second is long.

Norwegian uses “double definiteness” with adjectives (including ordinals). You put a definite article before the adjective (den/det/de) and a definite ending on the noun:

Without adjective: avsnittet = the paragraph
With adjective/ordinal: det første avsnittet = the first paragraph Same pattern: den store boka, det nye huset.

Why is it første and not først?

første is the ordinal adjective “first” used with nouns: det første avsnittet.
først is usually an adverb meaning “first/at first/firstly”: Først leser vi. It can also be a predicative adjective in some contexts, but not before a noun.

Why det and not den?

Because avsnitt is a neuter noun: et avsnitt (a paragraph), avsnittet (the paragraph). Neuter nouns take det in definite phrases with adjectives: det første avsnittet. For common gender nouns (masculine/feminine), you use den: den første setningen (the first sentence).

Why is it kort in the first clause but langt in the second?

Predicative adjectives agree with the (implied) noun:

Neuter singular takes -t: lang → langt (because the implied noun is neuter: avsnitt).
Some adjectives already end in -t in the base form, like kort, so the neuter form looks the same: avsnittet er kort.

Can det andre stand alone without repeating avsnittet?

Yes. This is normal ellipsis. Det andre clearly refers back to avsnittet, so the noun can be omitted: …men det andre (avsnittet) er langt.

Can I say Det første avsnitt er kort?

Not in standard prose. With an adjective/ordinal, definite nouns need both the article and the definite ending: det første avsnittet. You might see headings like Første avsnitt: in notes or outlines, but in sentences use double definiteness.

What’s the difference between andre (second) and annen/annet/andre (other/another)?

andre (with den/det): the ordinal “second,” same form for all genders: det andre kapittelet (the second chapter).
annen/annet/andre: the adjective “other/another/different”: et annet kapittel (another/different chapter), den andre boken can mean “the other book” (context decides), but with numbers it’s the ordinal “second.”

Why is there a comma before men?

Because it joins two independent clauses with their own subjects and verbs: …er kort, men det andre er langt. In Norwegian, put a comma before coordinating conjunctions like men when they connect full clauses.

How do you pronounce the tricky parts like første, avsnittet, langt?

første: the ø is like the vowel in British “bird”; in many dialects, rs becomes a “sh” sound, so roughly “FØRSH-teh.”
avsnittet: “AHV-snitt-eh” (the final -et is pronounced, though lightly).
langt: “lahngt” (the ng is like in “long,” then a clear final t).

What are the singular and plural forms of avsnitt?

Indefinite singular: et avsnitt
Definite singular: avsnittet
Indefinite plural: avsnitt (no ending—common for neuter nouns)
Definite plural: avsnittene

Can I use neste instead of andre?

Only if you mean “the next one,” not specifically “the second.”

det andre = the second (ordinal)
det neste = the next (the one that comes after the current one)

Does langt mean long (time) or far?

As an adjective (neuter), langt = “long” (physical or figurative length): avsnittet er langt.
As an adverb, langt = “far”: Det er langt til Bergen.
For time, use lang tid (“a long time”) or the adverb lenge: Jeg ventet lenge.

Could I say Det første avsnittet er kort, men det andre er lengre/lenger?

Yes—if you want a comparison (“longer”). Both lenger and lengre are accepted; lenger is more common. The opposite for “shorter” is kortere.

Do I have to repeat er in the second clause?

Yes. You normally repeat the verb: …men det andre er langt. Omitting it (…men det andre langt) sounds incomplete in standard Norwegian.

Is avsnitt the same as “paragraph”? What about paragraf or seksjon?

avsnitt = paragraph of text (what you want here).
paragraf = a numbered section in laws/regulations; not for ordinary text paragraphs.
seksjon is rarely used for paragraphs; it’s more “section/division” in other senses.